With 10,000 cases in 4 months Jamshedpur emerges as COVID hotbed

Jamshedpur, Sept. 13: Within four months, COVID-19 cases have crossed 10,000 mark in the city with 88.61 people being reported positive every day. According to information, the maximum number of cases was reported from August 30 to September 8 that is 2684 patients.

The Kolhan Division which was under green zone came under the 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.

The recovery rate of COVID-19 patients at Tata Main Hospital has improved from 78.28 per cent to 80.57 per cent. According to the senior management of the hospital, the recovery rate is a good signal for the city. While the world�s recovery rate is 78.28 per cent and India�s recovery rate is 77.77 per cent, the rate at TMH is a good trend.

The hospital has so far conducted 38143 tests out of which 26399 were RT-PCR tests while 10615 were Antigen Tests while 1129 were through TruNet machines. Out of these tests 6273 were tested corona positive.

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.

Expressing concern over the growing number of Covid cases in the city, East Singhbhum civil surgeon Rajendra Jha despite the district administration making all efforts, the people are not adhering to the rules of wearing masks and maintaining social distance.

” People are not taking the virus seriously. Markets are flooded with people.   If the people continue to evade following the norms of maintaining social distance and wearing masks, then the number of Covid cases may increase further,” said Jha.