Latest news with #RajeshBhaskar
Hindustan Times
30-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana sees drop in COVID-19 cases
Ludhiana's COVID-19 caseload has recently seen a decline, after reaching as high as nine cases on some days in the past couple of weeks. The district has not recorded any new cases in the last two days, and on Saturday, only two new cases were reported, both described as asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic. Including the individual who died in May, two more deaths have been recorded, both in individuals over 60 with comorbid conditions. (HT File Photo for representation) So far, the district has recorded 87 cases of COVID-19. The first positive cases began to surface on May 28, following the death of a 40-year-old local man in a Chandigarh hospital, who reportedly suffered from COPD, a lung disease. Currently, there are only 23 active cases, all in home isolation, and 72 individuals have recovered. While daily cases remained low (three to four) for the first two weeks of June, they spiked to nine on some days in the third week. Including the individual who died in May, two more deaths have been recorded, both in individuals over 60 with comorbid conditions. With the exception of a few minors, all reported positive cases were vaccinated for COVID-19. Experts suggest the current COVID-19 wave may be nearing its end due to the fall in new cases. 'As we have seen in the three earlier waves, in 2020, 2021, and 2022, the cases record a sudden hike and then equally suddenly fall. The fall in cases is being seen across the state and country,' said state COVID-19 nodal officer Dr Rajesh Bhaskar. He noted that since late May, the state has recorded 152 cases. As a precautionary measure, the health department advises the public to wear masks in crowded or poorly ventilated areas, maintain hand hygiene, and avoid unnecessary gatherings. Residents experiencing fever, cough, sore throat, or breathing difficulties are urged to consult their nearest health centre.
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Punjab looks to expand community support for TB patients
Chandigarh: Buoyed by signs of a reduction in the tuberculosis (TB) burden, Punjab is now aiming to expand the reach of Nikshay Mitra, a community support initiative that provides nutritional and treatment assistance to TB patients, to further improve treatment outcomes. Nationally, TB prevalence ranges from 137 to 747 cases per lakh population. In Punjab, the prevalence decreased from 314 to 217 cases per lakh, marking a significant step forward in the state's fight against TB. Caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, TB primarily affects the lungs and spreads through the air. It is both preventable and curable. As of now, 28,593 TB patients in Punjab are receiving treatment, and 20,252 of them are enrolled in the Nikshay Mitra programme, which is supported by 792 donors, including corporates, NGOs, institutions, elected representatives, and individuals. From Jan 1 to June 19, 30,106 TB cases were notified—19,539 through public health facilities and 10,567 through private facilities. Ludhiana reported the highest number of cases (6,343), followed by Amritsar (4,325), Jalandhar (3,164), and Patiala (3,027). The Nikshay Mitra scheme allows contributors to support TB patients by providing nutritional assistance, diagnostic services, and livelihood opportunities. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Patients receive Rs 1,000 per month to support dietary needs during treatment. In addition, private health facilities receive Rs 500 for every TB case reported, along with an additional Rs 500 if the patient's treatment outcome is successfully reported. The govt also provides Rs 500 to non-salaried individuals diagnosed with TB. Dr Rajesh Bhaskar, head, Punjab TB Cell, said that several initiatives are under way to raise awareness about the programme and encourage greater community participation. He also shared that Punjab governor Gulab Chand Kataria instructed all deputy commissioners and civil surgeons to actively reach out to potential donors in their respective districts. A list of local industries and NGOs has been circulated to support this effort, and additional engagement is planned at the state level. To further strengthen TB control efforts, state and district-level strategic intervention plans have been developed under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), targeting high-burden areas. All TB patients are provided free drugs and diagnostic services, and active case-finding campaigns are being conducted among vulnerable and high-risk populations. Governor steps up support Dr Bhaskar shared that governor Gulab Chand Kataria personally adopted 100 TB patients and asked the health department to identify another 100 patients each from two districts. These new patients will receive his support after the current six-month support period for the initial group of 100 patients from Tarn Taran concludes. TB Cases Notified District | Public notified | Private notified Ludhiana | 2,753 | 3,590 Amritsar | 2,412 | 1,913 Jalandhar | 1,544 | 1,620 Patiala | 1,640 | 1,387 MSID:: 121883101 413 |
Hindustan Times
11-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Health advisory goes for a toss in rallies amid rise in Covid-19 cases
With the district seeing a steady rise in Covid-19 cases, the local health department has been asking the people to wear masks in crowded areas, but this advisory is not being followed during the election campaign for the Ludhiana West by-poll which is picking up steam with each passing day. Ludhiana has been witnessing around 2-3 cases every day. People turning up at public meetings and other political campaigns can be seen sans masks. Even the candidates, who are busy wooing the voters, are seen without masks. The district has so far recorded 26 cases of Covid with two deaths. Ludhiana is also the leading district in the state in Covid cases. Out of the 26 Covid positive cases, most of the patients, including those who died, were vaccinated. State Covid nodal officer Dr Rajesh Bhaskar expressed concern over the lack of Covid-appropriate behaviour during political campaigns amid the steady rise in cases. 'This is a concern as Covid cases are surfacing regularly not just in Ludhiana but across the state. We have been asking people to mandatorily wear masks in crowded places. This also includes election rallies,' said Dr Bhaskar. He said the health department was considering urging the state government to issue an advisory to ensure adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour to prevent the spread of infection. Deputy commissioner Himanshu Jain said the district administration had not issued any such advisory for campaigns as there had been no such order from higher-ups. 'We are following the advisories being issued by the health department and the Election Commission,' he added. Meanwhile, three new Covid cases were reported in the district on Tuesday, taking the tally to 26 cases so far. The new cases include three men aged 16, 30 and 38 years. Two of them — the 16-year-old and the 30-year-old — are asymptomatic while the 38-year-old is mildly symptomatic. Besides the new cases, one of the cases earlier reported positive recovered on Tuesday. Of the total 26 cases reported so far, only 14 are positive at present. Of them, 13 are mildly symptomatic and in home isolation. Ten people have recovered so far. Two people, one 40-year-old man and another 69-year-old lady, both suffering from comorbid conditions, have died of the infection. All the people reported positive so far have been vaccinated for Covid, except an 18-year-old.
Hindustan Times
02-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Fully vaccinated among COVID +ve patients, say officials
Most of the people found infected with COVID-19 in Ludhiana so far were fully vaccinated, with even the person who died of the infection last week having received a third shot, according to the local health officials. 'Most of the patients who have been found positive were vaccinated. In fact, the person who died last Wednesday had received three shots of the COVID-19 vaccination,' confirmed a senior health official on the condition of anonymity. However, There was no record on their history of having contracted the infection during the earlier waves. Ludhiana district so far makes the most of the cases reported in the state. At present there a nine active cases in the state and eight of these are here only. A man suffering from a co-morbid lung ailment died on Wednesday while he admitted to a Chandigarh hospital for treatment. He had shown serious symptoms on 23rd May and died on 28th May. Of the eight active cases, seven are confirmed to have been vaccinated. One of the latest cases include a 69-year-old lady, who is admitted to Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh. She, according to district epidemiologist Dr Sheetal Narang, was suffering from typhoid for last five months and had been visiting PGIMER Chandigarh regularly for last one month, which is where she could have contracted the infection. Her vaccination status was not confirmed. A family member of the patient, an 18-year-old boy was also found COVID positive, but he is asymptomatic and was also vaccinated. A 35-year-old OPD patient, who is three months pregnant and complained of having fever for last two days, also tested positive at the Civil Hospital on Monday. Dr Narang, however, said that she didn't have fever anymore and was asymptomatic. She was also vaccinated. Vaccine 'highly efficient': Docs State nodal officer for COVID-19 Dr Rajesh Bhaskar said that the vaccine was only 90-95% efficient and, in a few cases, even those with proper vaccination may end up contracting the virus. The efficacy of the vaccine, according to him, also depended on the level of antibodies present in the body which depend on how long back the person was vaccinated their history of infection. He noted that people in the vulnerable group, those above 60 and suffering from co-morbidities can voluntarily go for another short of vaccination if it has been over two-three years since their last short of the vaccine. For the rest he assured the vaccine was highly efficient despite the 5% of outliers. It is pertinent here to mention that of the five active cases in the district two are asymptomatic and the rest also only mildly symptomatic. Dr Rajesh Bhaskar said that the situation is very normal as of now and there was no reason to worry about and that any advisory wasn't required yet. No spike in testing reported Meanwhile, hospitals across the city have reported no spike in testing. Senior Medical Officer (SMO), Civil Hospital, Dr Harpreet Singh, said that the number of tests at the RT-PCR lab was no more than 18-20 daily. Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) and Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), two of the city's biggest hospitals, also reported no spike in testing so far.
Hindustan Times
01-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana district tops Punjab's COVID tally with five cases, 1 death
Out of the six active COVID-19 cases in the state, five have been reported in the district with one person even dying of infection. According to health officials, the district till Sunday had five active cases, and one death. While two of the cases happen to be the kids of the man who died of COVID on Wednesday and are reported to be asymptomatic and in quarantine, three more cases were reported on Friday and Saturday, with one 26-year-old having returned from Kerala recently and two others who had come in contact with people who had come in contact with those who recently travelled to states with more number of cases. As per a senior health official speaking on the condition of anonymity, the latest three cases are mildly symptomatic. The department is tracing people who have been in contact with the people found positive to check a possible spread of infection. The official also confirmed that so far, the local health department was not sending test samples to Patiala to check for the strain of the infection. Despite having the greatest number of cases, with one death, the local health department hasn't yet issued any advisory. Some other district like Patiala have asked the district hospitals to make COVID tests mandatory for all patients complaining of fever, cold, and other symptoms. Avoid heading out in crowded areas While noting that the authority to issue any advisory was not available at the district level and was the prerogative of only the state or central government, Ludhiana civil surgeon Dr Ramandeep Kaur said the department through media had been asking people to exercise necessary precautions and voluntarily come in for tests if they see any symptoms. 'Ever since the first case was reported, we have been calling upon people to maintain SOPs like avoiding crowds or using masks when venturing out, special precautions for those with co-morbid conditions and age above sixty, isolation for those having symptoms, getting etc,. Even the health minister who was here earlier in the week had emphasised these precautions,' she said. She also said the department was following the condition closely and in discussions with the higher ups may issue an advisory as soon as it is warranted. State nodal officer for COVID-19, Dr Rajesh Bhaskar, said the situation is very normal as of now and there was no reason to worry about and that any advisory wasn't required yet. 'The situation is really normal. We have just six active cases. Kerala has over 300 cases and the government there too hasn't issued any advisory. Because the situation hasn't reached that situation yet,' he said. It is pertinent to mention that the person who died of COVID was already suffering from a lung ailment.
