Patiala, June 9 -- Punjab's Covid cases have jumped to 35, from 12, in the last seven days, with Ludhiana being the worst hit, as per data from the health department. Of these, nine cases have surfaced in the last 24 hours, health officials said.

Poll-bound Ludhiana has reported 23 cases, the highest in the state. The district has also logged two deaths - a 69-year-old woman who died at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research last week and a 39-year-old man who had died at Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh, the week before that.

The remaining cases are in Jalandhar (6), Mohali (4) and Ferozepur (2).

Experts said the surge in political activities ahead of the Ludhiana West bypoll, scheduled...