4 co-morbid patients die in Himachal, 137 new Covid cases

Four people died of Covid-related illness in the state today, ringing alarm bells for the Public Health Department. Three deaths have been reported from Shimla and one from Sirmaur district.

All four victims, aged 50, 58, 65 and 81 years, had comorbidities. Nevertheless, the death toll for a single day is quite worrisome, especially considering that casualties have been reported regularly due to Covid-related illnesses over the past few days. It’s for the first time since August last year that four people have died of Covid in a single day.

“The death toll in a single day is high, but all victims had serious comorbidities. They were already struggling with their respective illness and Covid deteriorated their condition further,” said a health official.

The state has seen a major spike in the number of active cases over the last week or so. Over the past few days, the state is recording new cases in excess of 300 when the testing is around 5,000.

Today, 137 cases were reported as the testing dropped to 1,718 on account of a holiday. Even as the hospital admission continues to be low and the positivity rate has gone beyond 6 per cent. The active case count is 1,764.

CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has already urged people to wear masks and follow the Covid protocol in crowded places. The advice, though, hasn’t been taken seriously yet.