key: cord-0974507-plsng0jj
authors: Sharma, Sahil; Goel, Kapil; Kurup, Karishma Krishna; Grover, Gagandeep Singh; Bhaskar, Rajesh
title: COVID-19 in Punjab, India: Epidemiological patterns, laboratory surveillance and contact tracing of COVID-19 cases, March–May 2020
date: 2021-05-08
journal: Clin Epidemiol Glob Health
DOI: 10.1016/j.cegh.2021.100769
sha: 4e827274c8f544a34eefa415d8546e5b40dd7d77
doc_id: 974507
cord_uid: plsng0jj

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 >60years (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.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) also known as novel severe acute respiratory syndrome- 30 Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly infectious disease which emerged in Wuhan City, 31 China in December 2019. On January 30 2020, COVID-19 disease was declared as Public Health 32 Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by World Health Organisation when disease 33 spread rapidly to other countries within few weeks and as on the March 11 2020 it was declared 34 that the pandemic had spread to 114 countries. 1 Epidemiological patterns of COVID-19 were described by time, place and person. Time Control, New Delhi for review and analysis COVID-19 data from the surveillance records and news/many-countries-including-india-don-t-know-when-covid-19-peak-will-come- Age group (Years) 

COVID-19 Public Health Emergency of International Concern 210 (PHEIC) Global research and innovation forum

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Acknowledgements: We acknowledge the Director Health Services, Punjab, State COVID-19 team and district IDSP teams for their efforts in COVID-19 data collection and cooperation in sharing the data.