NE NEWS SERVICE
PUDUCHERRY, MAY 11
For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak last year, Puducherry recorded 30 related fatalities, highest in a single day, taking the toll past the 1,000 mark.
The aggregate mounted to 75,024 after the addition of 2,049 fresh cases in the last 24 hours. Director of Health and Family Welfare Services S Mohan Kumar said a 14-year old girl from Puducherry was among those who succumbed to the disease.
The deceased were in the age group ranging between 14 and 85 years. Most of the patients who passed away had diabetes as a comorbidity, the Director said.
The toll stood at 1,018 as 30 died of the illness. The fresh cases were identified at the end of examination of 9058 samples putting the test positivity rate at 22.62 percent.
The health official noted that there were 14,829 active cases (2072 in hospitals and remaining 12,757 in home isolation). As many as 59,177 patients recovered and were discharged so far.
Puducherry region of the Union Territory accounted for 1590 new cases out of the 2049 fresh cases reported during last twenty-four hours while Karaikal reported 285, Yanam 125 and Mahe 49 fresh cases.
The fatality and recovery rates were 1.36 percent and 76.88 percent respectively. Kumar said that as many as 8.71 lakh samples were tested so far and it was found that 7.84 lakh out of them were negative.
On the vaccination front, he said 33,106 health care workers and 19,561 front line workers have been vaccinated so far in the Union Territory.
As many as 1,23,971 people belonging to either the category of senior citizens (above sixty years) or those belonging to the age group of 45 years and above with comorbidities have been vaccinated since March 1 in the Union Territory. Meanwhile, a two-week long lockdown imposed by the territorial government to curb the COVID spread came into force today. Only essential activities would be permitted till 12 noon while all other non-essential sectors are prohibited. Beaches, parks, gardens were shut. Places of worship were also out of bounds for the public. Malls and other entertainment sectors would remain closed.
A night curfew has also been in force from 12 midnight to 5 am next day. Transport services are also not allowed. The local bus terminal presented a forlorn look with all the buses remaining off the roads. Wedding ceremonies would have restricted participation of invitees and funerals would also have very limited number of mourners, an official source said.
