Coronavirus mortality rate on steady rise in Jamshedpur

Jamshedpur, Aug 29: The mortality rate in the city has been on a steady rise through the month of August. While the cases have been going up steadily since July, a proportionate spike in deaths has taken place in the month of August. On Friday alone five deaths were reported.

The district administration has asked all authorities to focus on adopting extra preparedness measures ahead of festive season and to ensure that the COVID protocol is in place in all shops and establishments and markets where people are likely to congregate. The death toll has increased to 200 with first causality being reported on July 4.

The city witnessed its first COVID death when a 71-year-old man who was a resident of Sonari died at the Tata Main Hospital on July 4. �

�As per our study those with existing ailments, prior conditions are getting infected. Any death, from a stroke, a heart attack, bronchopneumonia, everything is getting included as COVID-19,� said an official.

He noted that the problem is happening because of some other serious disease, those who have it are a little weak. Because of that weakness, COVID-19 infects them and kills them.

The Kolhan Division which was under green zone, came under coronavirus map with two persons testing positive at Chakulia, under East Singhbhum district on May 12. Several other persons tested positive had travel history from Maharashtra, Delhi, Gurugram and Chennai. They arrived in the city and were staying in quarantine centres in different parts. All the positive cases were shifted to Tata Main Hospital COVID wing.

However, now deaths have started taking place of the persons hailing from very densely-populated localities of the city whereas asymptomatic COVID patients are present in an overwhelming number in the steel city.

The district health department functionaries who are combating the COVID-19 are worried to know about the presence of Coronavirus in an unexpected quarter. Health officials said testing would be ramped up, particularly among symptomatic people, irrespective of whether or not they had a travel history.

�From a rough estimate over 70 per cent of the city population might be asymptomatic COVID patients,” said East Singhbhum district civil surgeon, Rajendra Nath Jha.

Jha pointed out that those who are asymptomatic actually pose the most danger for the society. “As the asymptomatic patients do not have any symptom of COVID, they move in the public places, including marketplaces, banks and on the streets and thus spread the virus unknowingly,” said the civil surgeon.

Meanwhile, crowded market places and densely populated residential areas like Harijan Basti of Dhatkidih, Mango and Jugsalai have emerged as COVID-19 hotspots in the city. In Harijan Basti alone 158 corona positive cases have been reported so far. �

��We have observed that thickly populated business and residential streets are susceptible to the quick spread of the virus. When the first positive case was reported at the basti, the administration failed to take any action. The victim�s house was not sealed and this led to the easy spread of the virus,� said a local resident.

While admitting that the situation is becoming tricky in crowded areas, a senior health officer said people should avoid visiting thickly populated places as far as possible. He said that there is an urgent to conduct random tests at the slum areas. � If people ensured social distancing norms, the situation could be brought under control within three weeks,� the official noted.

Deaths have started taking place of the persons hailing from very densely-populated localities of the city whereas asymptomatic COVID patients are present in an overwhelming number in the steel city.

� We have noticed that a number of positive cases are coming from areas that are densely populated like Mango, Jugsalai and Kadma. Business and residential areas located in Sakchi are vulnerable.

Crowded marketplaces and densely populated residential areas surrounding them are emerging as COVID-19 hotspots in the city,� noted an official.

�Mango and Jugsalai areas have a large number of small to medium retail and wholesale business houses and are frequented by thousands of customers every day. Most houses here have common walls.