Punjab has seen a sharp rise in daily COVID-19 cases over the past three weeks, as neighboring states Himachal Pradesh and Haryana also experience a surge. The number of active cases has increased drastically, rising from just five positive cases on March 12 to 73 new cases on April 4, an increase of 13 times. The state reported two deaths on April 3, the first fatalities in a month, bringing the total death toll to 20,520.
The highest positivity rate in the state was recorded in Mohali, at 11.11 percent, followed by Ludhiana at 10.09 percent. On April 4, Punjab recorded 73 new cases, almost double the previous day’s figure of 38. The growth of new cases started with just five on March 12, increasing to 11 on March 15, 27 on March 26, 58 on March 28, and finally reaching 73 on April 4.
Active cases have also risen dramatically, increasing from 45 on March 12 to 396 on April 4, with a peak of 332 on April 1. In response to the surge, Dr. Bhaskar emphasized the importance of wearing masks, saying that it is always better to prevent further infections. Punjab had already made masks mandatory in November 2022 when the Centre had warned of a possible surge in cases.
The situation in Punjab remains concerning as COVID-19 cases continue to rise rapidly, highlighting the need for strict adherence to preventive measures such as wearing masks, social distancing, and hand hygiene to contain the spread of the virus.
