Spurt in COVID-19 deaths in August in Jamshedpur, figures cross 200

Jamshedpur, Aug 27: As COVID-19 progresses into the last week of August, what is striking is the mortality rate has been on a steady rise through the month. While the cases have been going up steadily since July, a proportionate spike in deaths has taken place in the month of August.

The number of deaths in the East Sighbhum seems to have more than just doubled in a period of four weeks. If 37 deaths were reported in the district in July in August alone 166 people have died because of the virus. The total number of deaths has crossed 200. On average six have died per day in the past one month.  

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.  

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 puzzled 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.

Significantly, Tata Main Hospital has begun plasma therapy for the seriously-infected COVID patients. General manager, Tata Main Hospital, Rajan Chaudhury declared that they have already started plasma therapy on the serious patients and has urged those who have recovered from the Covid to donate their blood.