215 +ve in sharpest single-day spike

Gurgaon: The city on Thursday witnessed its biggest single-day spike in Covid-19 cases so far, with 215 people testing positive. Its case count is now 1,510, of which 1,114 are active while 292 patients have been discharged after recovery.
Gurgaon accounts for the 46% of the state’s 3,281 cases. It is followed by Faridabad (522), Sonepat (261) and Jhajjar (103).
The health department said it is collecting more than 400 samples daily and have identified some areas that are turning into hotspots, such as Sector 84, Sector 82, Sector 92 and Sector 108. Till May 15, the cases were mostly from urban clusters like Dundahera, Sirhaul, Khandsa mandi and Jharsa.
“Monitoring is difficult as majority of the patients are asymptomatic. We are prepared as cases are likely to rise in the coming days,” said a health official.
The health department indicated that the movement between Delhi and Gurgaon, that has now eased, could be a factor.
“Cases in Delhi are rising each day, and so are those in Gurgaon. After easing of lockdown curbs, more people are testing positive. However, most of the cases are mild, and over 700 people are currently in home isolation,” said Dr Ram Prakash Rai, district epidemiologist.
The first major spike in the city was reported on May 6 when 17 people, most of them linked to Azadpur mandi, tested positive and the cases jumped to 104. Gurgaon went past the 200 mark on May 17 and the 300 mark on May 26. Thereafter, over a hundred cases are being recorded daily. In the last four days alone, the city has added more than 500 new cases.
Fbd toll rises to 11
Meanwhile, 45 people tested positive for Covid in Faridabad too, taking its tally to 570. A 65-year-old man suffering from hypertension and diabetes also died of the infection late on Wednesday. Faridabad’s Covid toll is now 11.
“The man was admitted to the ESIC Medical College and Hospital since the past two days. Since he had hypertension and diabetes, his condition became critical on Wednesday and passed away later,” said a district administration official.
Among the new cases, five are from Dabua Colony, four from Sanjay Colony, three from Palla, two cases each from Surajkund and Old Faridabad, one each from Sector 16 and SGM Nagar and Sector 46.
The number of containment zones has been increased from 59 to 123 in the district.
The health department said it has sent 13,251 samples for test, out of which 12,158 are negative. The reports of 523 samples are still awaited. Around 179 patients have been discharged while 231 others are in hospital. There are 149 asymptomatic patients who have been kept in home isolation.