UP Sees Spike In Covid Cases With Three-Fold Increase In 10 Days
Uttar Pradesh has witnessed a three-fold jump in Covid infections in the past 10 days and people have been advised to wear masks and follow Covid guidelines.
As the Centre wrote to states in the wake of rising Covid cases, Uttar Pradesh has seen a three-fold rise in active cases in the past 10 days. Almost all the patients, however, are recuperating in home isolation with no major symptoms.
On Monday, the number of active Covid cases went up to 262, but none of them were critical, according to the officials, as quoted by news agency IANS.
On Sunday, a total 78 new Covid cases were reported in Uttar Pradesh including 38 from Lakhimpur Kheri where the students and staff of a government residential school were found infected. This figure was the highest in a single day this year.
"In the state, there is one Covid positive patient for every 10-lakh population," said a state government spokesman.
On December 30, 2022, there were 47 active Covid cases and on March 15 this year, the number of active cases in the state was 71 while on Monday it went up to 262, the agency reported.
Dr Abhishek Shukla, the secretary general of Association of International Doctors, advised people to follow Covid protocol and avoid crowded places. He said, "Following Covid protocol including social distancing, use of masks in public places, and avoiding crowded places can bring down Covid cases. Till now, Uttar Pradesh has reported 21,28,582 Covid cases since the pandemic began."
An alert has been issued to health care officials of several districts where the highest number of active cases were reported, mainly Noida, Ghaziabad, Lucknow, Meerut, Bulandshahr, and Lakhimpur Kheri to increase contact tracing and testing.
One death due to Covid was also reported from Muzaffarnagar recently.
Vikasendu Agrawal, state surveillance officer said, "The patient was admitted for some other ailment and died during treatment. The positive report has come now and hence it has been added to the list of Covid deaths." The total Covid deaths reported till now in state is 23,650.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also reviewed the Covid situation with Team-9 and directed officials to increase testing and directed that Covid-dedicated hospitals should be identified in all 75 districts immediately and all oxygen plants established last year should be made functional.
"There are various kinds of flu also doing the rounds and people have become complacent with regards to Covid-19. It is clear that not everyone with symptoms is getting tested. However, the situation is very much under control as we do not have any serious cases in hospitals till now," said an official.
Centre Asks States To Increase Proportion Of RT-PCR Tests, Booster Dose Coverage Amid Rise In Cases
As India logged over 1,800 new Covid cases for the second consecutive day, taking the active caseload to over 10,000-mark, the Centre asked states and Union Territories to increase proportion of RT-PCR tests as well as booster dose coverage, especially for the vulnerable population group.
In a meeting with states and UTs, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan also asked them to undertake mock drills across all health facilities on April 10 and 11 to ensure operational readiness of hospital infrastructure, including oxygen cylinders, PSA plants, ventilators, logistics and human resources.
"The Union Health Secretary stressed on ramping of testing with higher proportion of RT-PCR, and whole genome sequencing of positive samples. He also stressed on the need to increase administration of precaution dose among people, especially for the vulnerable population group," a government statement said.
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