BENGALURU: The weekly Covid case fatality rate (CFR) in Bengaluru peaked during the May 29-June 4 week to touch 7%, the highest seen in 2021 so far.
During this period, the city witnessed 25,699 fresh Covid-19 cases and 1,797 deaths.
The CFR remained at 4.8% during the May 22-28 week even though the state capital recorded 1,37,343 Covid-positive cases and 2,037 fatalities in the period.
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From May 29 to June 4, BBMP conducted 4.2 lakh tests and case positivity rate stood at 6%.
It was nearly 12% in the previous week.The weekly positivity rate was highest between May 1 and 7 with 38.6% when 78,903 had tested positive for Covid-19 from 3.9 lakh tests done.
P Rajendra Cholan, special commissioner (health), BBMP, said high CFR is because the denominator – or total positive cases – is less”.
‘Focus on reducing CFR to less than 1%’The average daily Covid positive cases has come down to 3,500 in the past one week, whereas it was 6,000-8,000 in a day in the past week.
The absolute number of Covid deaths is less.
The CFR is calculated not based on the total affected population, but with the total number of Covid cases in the particular time period.
There is no increase in the absolute number of deaths,” said Cholan.
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Twenty of them recovered and two are in the hospital, while five people passed away.During May, CFR was 2.5%, much higher than 1% CFR in April, Cholan said.
“We have to reduce the CFR to less than 1% and efforts are on to this effect.
We are analysing the pattern of deaths, especially with regard to brought-dead cases, deaths occurring in home isolation, deaths post discharge,” said Cholan.
Dr Giridhara R Babu, epidemiologist and member of Karnataka Covid technical advisory committee, the week-to-week comparison of CFR may not be right as there will be a lag between the surge in cases and surge in deaths.
“The week-to-week analysis is helpful in comparison.
However, CFR will not go high suddenly, when the cases are going down.
There is no reason to believe the case severity is more in the last week.
This could be a reflection of the earlier cases and lag time,” said Dr Babu.
The Covid deaths seen on a particular day are the cases from 15 days ago, according to experts.
BBMP officers up to 80% of the deaths are among senior citizens with comorbidities.
The civic body is checking on the vaccination status of senior citizens who have succumbed to Covid.
“Nearly 20% of the deaths are among youngsters and middle-aged without comorbidities.
This is worrisome,” said Cholan.