Keeping in view of surging cases of COVID-19 and higherCase Fatality Rate (CFR) in Punjab, the Health Minister Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhutoday instructed all the Civil Surgeons to motivate the severe COVID-19patients for early treatment at Government health facilities.
Expressing concern over the symptomatic people typicallyfails to report at healthcare facilities, Mr Sidhu said that as per the deathreview team of the Health Department, 77.90 percent of cases of COVID-19 camefor treatment in hospitals with severe symptoms at a late stage which is amajor cause of higher CFR of State. He said that it is the moral responsibilityof all citizens that if anyone feels symptoms of COVID-19, he/she should notdelay seeking treatment and immediately visit the Govt. health facilities toget tested so as the positive patients can be treated timely. .
Health Minister pointed out that the true level ofCOVID-19 transmission is frequently underestimated by high-riskpopulations. Because of it, people withsevere symptoms remain undetected and thus fail to get treatment at healthcarefacilities.
Sharing the details of positive cases of COVID-19 anddeaths reported urban/Rural populations, he further said that 71.40 percentcases have been confirmed from the urban population and only 28.60 percentcases have been reported from the rural population, during January to February2021, but the deaths reported in urban is 45.50 percent which is much lowerthan rural where it is 54.50 percent.
It clarified that people with co-morbidity came fortreatment with severe and advanced stage of COVID-19 at hospitals in ruralareas and he urged the COVID-19 patients to immediately contact the hospital incase of any health issue.
Divulging about the age-wise distribution of COVID-19deaths, Health Minister said that it is also a matter of concern that more than80 percent of deaths have been reported in people with elderly age. He saidthat 31.70 percent of deaths were reported in patients aged between 61-70years, 31.50 percent above 70 years and 20.30 percent deaths reported inpatients who were aged between 51-60 years.
Mr. Sidhu also appealed to the people to take maximumbenefit of free of cost vaccination drive and all eligible beneficiaries mustget themselves vaccinated at the earliest.