COVID-19 in Punjab, India: Epidemiological patterns, laboratory surveillance and contact tracing of COVID-19 cases, March–May 2020
Background: In Punjab, first COVID-19 case was detected on March 5, 2020 followed by multiple clusters. Understanding the epidemiology of reported COVID-19 cases helps decision makers in planning future responses. We described the epidemiological patterns, laboratory surveillance and contact tracing...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213398421000737 |
| _version_ | 1818443801224544256 |
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| author | Sahil Sharma Kapil Goel Karishma Krishna Kurup Gagandeep Singh Grover Rajesh Bhaskar |
| author_facet | Sahil Sharma Kapil Goel Karishma Krishna Kurup Gagandeep Singh Grover Rajesh Bhaskar |
| author_sort | Sahil Sharma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: In Punjab, first COVID-19 case was detected on March 5, 2020 followed by multiple clusters. Understanding the epidemiology of reported COVID-19 cases helps decision makers in planning future responses. We described the epidemiological patterns, laboratory surveillance and contact tracing of COVID-19 cases in Punjab. Methods: We analysed state's COVID-19 data from March–May 2020 to describe time, place and person distribution. We analysed the laboratory surveillance and contact tracing reports to calculate frequency of testing, sample positivity rate (PR) and contacts traced per case. Findings: A total of 2256 cases were reported from March–May 2020 (attack rate 75 cases/million and case fatality rate 2%). Attack rate was higher among males (81 cases/million males) and maximum affected age group was 60–69 years (164∙5 cases/million). Five of 22 districts reported almost half cases in May's first week. Mortality rate was highest among individuals >60 years (six deaths/million) and males (two deaths/million males). Of 45 deaths, 41 reported comorbidities [(hypertension (42%), diabetes (40%)]. COVID-19 testing increased from 46 samples/day (PR: 2%) in March's first week to 4000 samples/day (PR: 2∙5%) by May's end (2752 tests/million). Amritsar conducted 2035 tests/million (highest PR: 6∙5%) while Barnala conducted 4158 tests/million (lowest PR: 1%). For 2256 cases, 19,432 contacts were traced (nine contacts/case) with 11% positivity rate. Interpretation: COVID-19 in Punjab mostly affected males, >60 years of age and individuals with comorbid conditions. Many districts with less testing and contact tracing had higher positivity rate. We recommended to implement and ensure adequate testing and contact tracing in all the districts of Punjab. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T19:05:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d578c40afc8347f9975a74096a4fcb2d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2213-3984 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T19:05:49Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-d578c40afc8347f9975a74096a4fcb2d2022-12-21T22:50:51ZengElsevierClinical Epidemiology and Global Health2213-39842021-07-0111100769COVID-19 in Punjab, India: Epidemiological patterns, laboratory surveillance and contact tracing of COVID-19 cases, March–May 2020Sahil Sharma0Kapil Goel1Karishma Krishna Kurup2Gagandeep Singh Grover3Rajesh Bhaskar4National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi, IndiaDepartment of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India; Corresponding author. Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh–160012, India.South Asia Field Epidemiology and Technology Network, IndiaDirectorate Health Services, Punjab, IndiaDirectorate Health Services, Punjab, IndiaBackground: In Punjab, first COVID-19 case was detected on March 5, 2020 followed by multiple clusters. Understanding the epidemiology of reported COVID-19 cases helps decision makers in planning future responses. We described the epidemiological patterns, laboratory surveillance and contact tracing of COVID-19 cases in Punjab. Methods: We analysed state's COVID-19 data from March–May 2020 to describe time, place and person distribution. We analysed the laboratory surveillance and contact tracing reports to calculate frequency of testing, sample positivity rate (PR) and contacts traced per case. Findings: A total of 2256 cases were reported from March–May 2020 (attack rate 75 cases/million and case fatality rate 2%). Attack rate was higher among males (81 cases/million males) and maximum affected age group was 60–69 years (164∙5 cases/million). Five of 22 districts reported almost half cases in May's first week. Mortality rate was highest among individuals >60 years (six deaths/million) and males (two deaths/million males). Of 45 deaths, 41 reported comorbidities [(hypertension (42%), diabetes (40%)]. COVID-19 testing increased from 46 samples/day (PR: 2%) in March's first week to 4000 samples/day (PR: 2∙5%) by May's end (2752 tests/million). Amritsar conducted 2035 tests/million (highest PR: 6∙5%) while Barnala conducted 4158 tests/million (lowest PR: 1%). For 2256 cases, 19,432 contacts were traced (nine contacts/case) with 11% positivity rate. Interpretation: COVID-19 in Punjab mostly affected males, >60 years of age and individuals with comorbid conditions. Many districts with less testing and contact tracing had higher positivity rate. We recommended to implement and ensure adequate testing and contact tracing in all the districts of Punjab.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213398421000737COVID-19COVID-19 testingContact tracingIncidenceIndia |
| spellingShingle | Sahil Sharma Kapil Goel Karishma Krishna Kurup Gagandeep Singh Grover Rajesh Bhaskar COVID-19 in Punjab, India: Epidemiological patterns, laboratory surveillance and contact tracing of COVID-19 cases, March–May 2020 Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health COVID-19 COVID-19 testing Contact tracing Incidence India |
| title | COVID-19 in Punjab, India: Epidemiological patterns, laboratory surveillance and contact tracing of COVID-19 cases, March–May 2020 |
| title_full | COVID-19 in Punjab, India: Epidemiological patterns, laboratory surveillance and contact tracing of COVID-19 cases, March–May 2020 |
| title_fullStr | COVID-19 in Punjab, India: Epidemiological patterns, laboratory surveillance and contact tracing of COVID-19 cases, March–May 2020 |
| title_full_unstemmed | COVID-19 in Punjab, India: Epidemiological patterns, laboratory surveillance and contact tracing of COVID-19 cases, March–May 2020 |
| title_short | COVID-19 in Punjab, India: Epidemiological patterns, laboratory surveillance and contact tracing of COVID-19 cases, March–May 2020 |
| title_sort | covid 19 in punjab india epidemiological patterns laboratory surveillance and contact tracing of covid 19 cases march may 2020 |
| topic | COVID-19 COVID-19 testing Contact tracing Incidence India |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213398421000737 |
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