The first week of the month indicates so. And the big trend it's dropping is Odisha moving towards a bigger death peak than the May count. The numbers tell the grim tale. In the first 8-days of June, a high of 327 have succumbed to the disease. The total toll so far in June has been nearly 46 per cent of the deaths in the whole of May. At the current rate of growth of 1.4 per cent, the toll count in June may touch the 4-digit mark.
Death Peak In First Wave
The data from the first wave reveals that Odisha, though has recorded the peak in daily positive cases on September 26, 2020, witnessed the peak in deaths in the month of October. The downslide started only in November.
As per data with the State Health Department, when September (peak month in 2020) recorded 372 deaths, October and November had recorded 478 and 419 deaths, respectively.
Second Wave Trend
Echoing the trend of the first wave, the deaths in the State are moving towards the peak in the State, observed experts.
"The deaths in Covid-19 usually carry a two-week lag. This is the reason why Covid-19 fatalities peak in the month following the peak month of daily positives," explained a high-ranking official in the State health department and he further added that in the month of May, the State was recording fatalities from the severe cases of April. This is the reason, why May witnessed lesser fatalities, he explained.
The fatalities in June are on the rise because deaths reported now actually are the severe cases recorded during the peak month of May. The ICU capacity is still high at 64 per cent. Over 1200 patients are in need of intensive care at present. Moreover, over 450 patients are now requiring ventilator support, which means they need machine support to breathe life. Case studies reveal that the mortality rate of patients on a ventilator is at around 40-50 per cent, explained the high-ranking official.
He, however, added that since last week the inflow of severe or acute cases in the State has recorded a marked decline which will only be reflected in the toll chart by June end.
"A fall in the Covid-19 mortalities in the State will only be witnessed from June last week," the senior official claimed.
Odisha In Country's Toll Map
The high rate of deaths in June has catapulted the State to the top states having a higher number of fatalities every day in June. The chart nationally is led by Tamil Nadu and is followed by Maharashtra and West Bengal.
Since all states have witnessed the peak in the month of April last and May first week, their fatality rates are on the downswing. Only West Bengal and Odisha are showing a rising trend in mortalities. Incidentally, both states reached their daily peak in the last week of May.
On March 17, Dr Randeep Guleria, Director, AIIMS Delhi, had told IANS that a trend that is quite conspicuous in the worldwide data of COVID-19 is that males are more vulnerable to COVID 19 as compared to women but the reason for the trend was not ascertained. "One interesting trend is also that it has occurred more in men compared to women," he had said adding "the reason is yet to be found behind such a trend."
Well, it seems that the mystery has been decoded by the health community of the world. In a report published on May 10 in 'European Heart Journal' it was found that more concentration of Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 or ACE2 in males as compared to females could be responsible for such a trend. The report said, "The current pandemic coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infects a wide age group but predominantly elderly individuals, especially men and those with cardiovascular disease."
The study also said that "patients with heart failure, plasma ACE2 concentrations were higher in men than in women, possibly reflecting higher tissue expression of this receptor for SARS coronavirus infections. This could explain why men might be more susceptible to infection with, or the consequences of, SARS-CoV-2."
The sample size for the study was 1,485 men and 537 women with heart failure and the results were validated in 1,123 men and 575 women. However, none of them was COVID patient. But the researchers involved in the study believed that other research on how ACE2 interacts with the virus can help explain the variance in death rates between men and women.
ACE2 is an enzyme, present in most organs and is attached to the cell membrane of mainly lung type II alveolar cells. It binds with coronaviruses like the one which causes COVID-19 and allows them to more easily infect healthy cells.
The report however categorically said, "The conclusions drawn in this analysis are mainly restricted to heart failure, albeit a group of patients at high risk for COVID-19." However, experts in India attribute men's lifestyle responsible for such a trend.
Dr Vichar Nigam working at the Internal Medicine Department at the Columbia Asia Hospital in Pune told IANS that the reason behind such a trend appears to be more logical than scientific. "The reason why more and more males are testing positive is the fact that they tend to move out in search of household items and involve in general social talk more than the women. Also, women, while taking care of household activities tend to wash hands more often. Especially during a social lockdown, men would always be interested in going out for whatsoever reason. Whereas women, understanding their responsibility to take care of the household and children mostly remain indoors."
Echoing the same rationale, Dr Manoj Goel, Director, Pulmonology at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, told IANS that males were more prone for this infection due to more social exposure. "Males are at a higher risk factor of COVID infection than females possibly because their social exposure is happening more than females. It is seen mostly men leaving their houses to get the essential things which makes them more exposed to the virus than females."
Dr Goel also said, "Various risk factors in the form of co-morbidities like heart diseases, hypertension, diabetes, chronic lung disease and habit of excessive smoking and drinking are also more common in men as compared to women. These co-morbidities are responsible for more deaths due to Covid-19 in men than women. Whoever is stepping out of the house be it male or female, even to buy essentials, should ensure to follow all necessary precautions."
BJP's Odisha unit general secretary, Prithviraj Harichandan, while citing the recent death of a Surat returnee, said, “Though the returnee was suffering from liver ailments, he was detected COVID-19 positive. However, the bulletin issued by State Health and Family Welfare department yesterday did not record his death as one due to COVID19. We are unable to ascertain why the government is trying to conceal data.”
Echoing similar views, Congress MLA Santosh Saluja said, “Till now 3.5 lakh migrants have returned to Odisha from other States. Only those having some symptoms in temporary medical camps and quarantine centres are being tested for COVID19. I believe if all persons are tested, the COVID19 count in Odisha will be in lakhs,” said Saluja.
Saluja further stated that the State government is now adopting the same formula which it used to conceal starvation deaths.
Responding to the allegations of the opposition, senior ruling-BJD leader Subhash Singh said, “The state government has been transparent in providing information regarding COVID-19 statistics including cases, recoveries and other aspects.”
Edited By: Bikram Keshari Jena
COVID-19 Update In Odisha:
Odisha COVID-19 Recovery Count Jumps To 1050
Odisha Reports 96 More COVID-19 Cases, Positive Tally Rises To 1819
According to the latest data, the total number of cases in India reached 14,83,156 of which 33,425 people have died while 9,52,743 have recovered. The total number of active cases are 4,96,988. The recovery rate further improved to 63.92 per cent.
Total #COVID19 cases in India rise to 14,83,157.
33.80% Active cases (496,988)
63.92% Recoveries (952,743)
2.28% Deaths (33425)Single-day spike of 47,704 positive cases & 654 deaths in India in the last 24 hours.
(Health Ministry)
— OTV (@otvnews) July 28, 2020
Maharashtra remained the worst-hit state and reported 7,924 new infections, taking its tally to 3,83,723, followed by Tamil Nadu (2,13,723), Delhi (1,31,219) and Karnataka (1,01,465).
The national capital recorded a single-day spike of 613 cases taking the tally beyond 1.3 lakh cases of which 10,994 were active cases as 3,853 people died and 1,16,372 were cured and discharged.
Meanwhile, more than 5 lakh COVID19 tests conducted in a single day over two consecutive days. On 26th July, India tested a total of 5,15,000 samples and on 27th July, a total of 5,28,000 samples were tested, informed Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
More than 5 lakh #COVID19 tests conducted in a single day over two consecutive days. On 26th July, India tested a total of 5,15,000 samples and on 27th July, a total of 5,28,000 samples were tested: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare pic.twitter.com/HkkrJHStI5
— OTV (@otvnews) July 28, 2020
On the global front, The overall number of coronavirus cases has topped 16.4 million, while the deaths have increased to over 652,000, according to Johns Hopkins University.
As of Tuesday morning, the total number of cases stood at 16,407,310, while the fatalities rose to 652,459, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed in its latest update.
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