Slowdown in daily Covid cases in Jamshedpur, eye on pandal hoppers

Jamshedpur, Oct 22: The pandemic in Jamshedpur has entered a new phase of decline in cases. However, the administration is not willing for anytype of let down during the festive season. About 96 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in the city out of 14000 antigen tests in the last 24 hours, a steep fall in numbers after days of high reportage. During the months of August and September, the daily positive cases ranged between 150 to 200 cases, however with the beginning of October the situation has improved. ��

�We worked on three Ts Testing, Tracing and Treatment that led to controlling the prevailing situation. Moreover, the number of deaths due to COVID has also come down considerably during this period as only three persons died during the past 24 hours,� said an official of the health department.

He said that the department is also taking several preventive measures in view of the festive season. Random tests are being conducted in view of Durga Puja. People who are visiting markets are being subjected to random testing. The department has set up a target to conduct 14000 more tests in the next 24 hours.

The official said that despite there being a sign of decline in the Covid cases, the department is taking extra care because Durga Puja has already started.  The people are expected to come out in huge numbers for pandal hopping. Only seven people can be inside the pandal. Jamshedpur Kendriya Durga Puja Samity has set up a 42-member committee that will visit every pandal to ensure that social distancing guidelines are followed.

The number of COVID cases may increase after Durga Puja. Such fears have been expressed by health experts. The social gatherings, outings during Durga puja might lead to a very bad situation this year.

East Singhbhum district had its first Coronavirus positive case on May 12, exactly four months from now, when a 23-year-old girl and a 27-year-old youth from Chakulia were admitted at the Tata Main Hospital.   Since May 12, the Coronavirus continued to spread across the East Singhbhum district and in six months has reached the 16,000 mark.