(Riya Saha, Intern Journalist )RANCHI: July is proving to be a fatal month for Jharkhand due to the number of COVID casualties. Of the 33 deaths reported so far, 18 took place in the first 12 days of this month alone, the highest number of deaths being reported on Sunday when nine casualties were recorded. Sources in the health department hinted at a surge in COVID casualties in the next 15 days.
In the last two weeks, the state’s mortality rate has gone up to 0.82% from 0.60%, although it is below the national average of 2.66%. State health secretary Nitin Madan Kulkarni said comorbidities led to the majority of the deaths. Kulkarni added, “Most of these casualties have been senior citizens with severe or very severe comorbidities. In such cases, there isn’t much that one can do although our doctors’ tried their best to cure them.”
The health secretary informed that the department is currently analyzing the COVID casualties for a further action plan.
Asked about the sudden spurt in deaths, Kulkarni said it may be directly linked to Unlock 1 and 2. He added, “Compared to the previous months, most people are now moving out of their homes for their medical needs. During the nationwide lockdown, many put their surgeries and other medical requirements on hold owing to the hospitals being closed, unavailability of transport facilities. etc. But now people are even traveling to other states for their medical needs and resultantly, we see more positive cases and those with comorbidities and other complications are succumbing to the virus.”
Dr. Prabhat Kumar, the head of Jharkhand’s Covid-19 task force, mentioned that those with a strong immune system are recovering at a faster rate. “More cases or more deaths have a direct relation with intensified testing. But as far as deaths are concerned, COVID casualties are barely 10% of the total casualties.”
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