Following a sharp spike in new cases of the fatal coronavirus, the Health Department and the Haryana government have implemented additional measures to address the disease. During this new wave, approximately five dozen patients have tested positive for COVID-19, with additional suspected cases showing symptoms of the disease.
According to bulletin data from the Health Department, the number of COVID-19 cases has increased from 1,078,985 on December 26 to 1,079,044 on January 17. Among these cases, 311,659 individuals were infected in Gurugram alone, accounting for 29 percent of the total reported patients. Following Gurugram, Faridabad district ranked second with 138,236 patients, followed by Hisar, Sonipat, and Karnal with 64,671, 60,043, and 50,748 cases, respectively. Panchkula and Ambala districts reported 50,248 and 43,775 positive cases after the virus entered Haryana. Of the total reported cases, 1,068,196 people have been discharged after recovery.
Additionally, the state has witnessed a significant number of casualties due to the disease since its onset in Haryana, with at least 10,780 patients succumbing to the virus. Hisar district recorded the highest number of deaths with 1,188, followed by Gurugram with 1,036 deaths, constituting about 10 percent of the total deaths. Other districts, including Faridabad, Panipat, Bhiwani, Karnal, Rohtak, Sirsa, Ambala, and Fatehabad, reported 741, 679, 668, 603, 554, 551, 542, and 502 untimely deaths, respectively.
Officials have stated that necessary measures are being taken in response to the surge in new cases. Among the 10,780 deceased individuals, a significant portion includes migrant laborers, with about three and a half thousand migrant laborers losing their lives during the peak period of the pandemic. Most of these migrant laborers hailed from neighboring Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
During previous waves of the pandemic, the highest number of cases emerged in districts falling within the National Capital Region (NCR), especially in Gurugram adjacent to Delhi. The movement of people on a large scale at the international and national levels has been identified as a significant factor contributing to the spread of the infection, prompting the concerned department to implement additional efforts to control the situation.
Given the current scenario, the Health Department remains on high alert, continuously monitoring reported cases in Gurugram and suspected cases in adjoining districts. Notably, Gurugram has contributed significantly to the overall COVID-19 infection in Haryana, with 316,658 cases reported so far. Fortunately, no new cases have been reported in other districts, and there are currently no casualties.
Responding to the surge in fresh cases, Health Minister Anil Vij emphasized that the increase in infections prompted timely arrangements in hospitals. Officials have been directed to monitor and report cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) to detect early rising trends. Vij stated that a mock drill has been conducted in Haryana, and preparations are in place, with 238 PSA plants operational. He stressed the need to take the disease seriously, as it is presenting in a manner similar to previous occurrences.
