Covid positivity rate in city 3%, fatality 3.5%

Bhopal: An analysis of the 3,000 odd coronavirus cases from Bhopal suggests that the positivity rate of the viral disease in the state capital is 3.0% and fatality rate is about 3.5%.

Most of the Covid deaths reported in the city were cases with co-morbidities and those from among vulnerable population, including Bhopal gas victims, said Bhopal MP Pragya Singh Thakur, at a function here on Wednesday.

While health officials claim that 100% contact tracing has been achieved in Bhopal, experts are wondering whether the efforts in the city has led to ‘breaking the chain of infection’. A health department report suggests that the health staff could establish and identify as many as 25,300 first contacts in the state capital.

In Unlock 1.0, as the curbs were eased and shops and business opened, there has been a rapid increase in the number of active cases in Bhopal, especially during the last fortnight. The number was stable and declining with about 400 active cases by the end of lockdown, but it rose to about 600 in the month of unlock thereafter.

Over the past three months, cumulative analysis, indicates, the situation has improved in Bhopal. At the beginning of April the state capital accounted for about 1.7% of total cases. It came down to 0.6% by June end. Health department officials are upbeat that contribution of Indore and Bhopal in nationwide Covid-19 cases is declining.

With Covid-19 deaths, nearing 100 mark, there is an anticipation if a peak has been reached or more is awaited.

A lot also depends on the healthcare outcome ratio. In some hospitals, the ratio is 70:30, where 30% do not survive. Another focus is Covid-19 management. It pertains to infection prevention and control including bio-medical waste surveillance, quarantine and isolation, clinical management, laboratory sample collection and testing along with psychological care.