Latest news with #RajeshBhaskar
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Fully vaccinated among COVID +ve patients, say officials
Most of the people found infected with COVID-19 in Ludhiana so far were fully vaccinated, with even the person who died of the infection last week having received a third shot, according to the local health officials. 'Most of the patients who have been found positive were vaccinated. In fact, the person who died last Wednesday had received three shots of the COVID-19 vaccination,' confirmed a senior health official on the condition of anonymity. However, There was no record on their history of having contracted the infection during the earlier waves. Ludhiana district so far makes the most of the cases reported in the state. At present there a nine active cases in the state and eight of these are here only. A man suffering from a co-morbid lung ailment died on Wednesday while he admitted to a Chandigarh hospital for treatment. He had shown serious symptoms on 23rd May and died on 28th May. Of the eight active cases, seven are confirmed to have been vaccinated. One of the latest cases include a 69-year-old lady, who is admitted to Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh. She, according to district epidemiologist Dr Sheetal Narang, was suffering from typhoid for last five months and had been visiting PGIMER Chandigarh regularly for last one month, which is where she could have contracted the infection. Her vaccination status was not confirmed. A family member of the patient, an 18-year-old boy was also found COVID positive, but he is asymptomatic and was also vaccinated. A 35-year-old OPD patient, who is three months pregnant and complained of having fever for last two days, also tested positive at the Civil Hospital on Monday. Dr Narang, however, said that she didn't have fever anymore and was asymptomatic. She was also vaccinated. Vaccine 'highly efficient': Docs State nodal officer for COVID-19 Dr Rajesh Bhaskar said that the vaccine was only 90-95% efficient and, in a few cases, even those with proper vaccination may end up contracting the virus. The efficacy of the vaccine, according to him, also depended on the level of antibodies present in the body which depend on how long back the person was vaccinated their history of infection. He noted that people in the vulnerable group, those above 60 and suffering from co-morbidities can voluntarily go for another short of vaccination if it has been over two-three years since their last short of the vaccine. For the rest he assured the vaccine was highly efficient despite the 5% of outliers. It is pertinent here to mention that of the five active cases in the district two are asymptomatic and the rest also only mildly symptomatic. Dr Rajesh Bhaskar said that the situation is very normal as of now and there was no reason to worry about and that any advisory wasn't required yet. No spike in testing reported Meanwhile, hospitals across the city have reported no spike in testing. Senior Medical Officer (SMO), Civil Hospital, Dr Harpreet Singh, said that the number of tests at the RT-PCR lab was no more than 18-20 daily. Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) and Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), two of the city's biggest hospitals, also reported no spike in testing so far.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana district tops Punjab's COVID tally with five cases, 1 death
Out of the six active COVID-19 cases in the state, five have been reported in the district with one person even dying of infection. According to health officials, the district till Sunday had five active cases, and one death. While two of the cases happen to be the kids of the man who died of COVID on Wednesday and are reported to be asymptomatic and in quarantine, three more cases were reported on Friday and Saturday, with one 26-year-old having returned from Kerala recently and two others who had come in contact with people who had come in contact with those who recently travelled to states with more number of cases. As per a senior health official speaking on the condition of anonymity, the latest three cases are mildly symptomatic. The department is tracing people who have been in contact with the people found positive to check a possible spread of infection. The official also confirmed that so far, the local health department was not sending test samples to Patiala to check for the strain of the infection. Despite having the greatest number of cases, with one death, the local health department hasn't yet issued any advisory. Some other district like Patiala have asked the district hospitals to make COVID tests mandatory for all patients complaining of fever, cold, and other symptoms. Avoid heading out in crowded areas While noting that the authority to issue any advisory was not available at the district level and was the prerogative of only the state or central government, Ludhiana civil surgeon Dr Ramandeep Kaur said the department through media had been asking people to exercise necessary precautions and voluntarily come in for tests if they see any symptoms. 'Ever since the first case was reported, we have been calling upon people to maintain SOPs like avoiding crowds or using masks when venturing out, special precautions for those with co-morbid conditions and age above sixty, isolation for those having symptoms, getting etc,. Even the health minister who was here earlier in the week had emphasised these precautions,' she said. She also said the department was following the condition closely and in discussions with the higher ups may issue an advisory as soon as it is warranted. State nodal officer for COVID-19, Dr Rajesh Bhaskar, said the situation is very normal as of now and there was no reason to worry about and that any advisory wasn't required yet. 'The situation is really normal. We have just six active cases. Kerala has over 300 cases and the government there too hasn't issued any advisory. Because the situation hasn't reached that situation yet,' he said. It is pertinent to mention that the person who died of COVID was already suffering from a lung ailment.
