Ex-MLA among 147 new cases, one more death takes toll to 23

Ranchi: A former legislator was infected by Covid-19 as the state reported 147 fresh cases from 17 districts on Thursday. One person also succumbed to the viral infection at a private hospital here, taking the toll in the state to 23.
With Thursday’s fresh cases, the number of active cases in Jharkhand has crossed the 1,000-mark and stands at 1,106.
In Palamu, a former MLA tested positive in less than 48 hours after cabinet minister Mithilesh Thakur and legislator Mathura Mahto were infected by the virus. The former MLA, who tested positive, had joined Ajsu-P days ahead of the assembly election that was announced last year. He was at his Ranchi house when his test results came in. According to health department officials, the former MLA was being shifted to the Rims Covid-19 ward at the time of filing this report.
“We have got the information that one of our leaders have tested positive for Covid-19. We wish for his speedy recovery,” Ajsu-P’s chief spokesperson Devsharan Bhagat said.
The latest coronavirus casualty was a 63-year-old man from Deoghar who died during treatment at Medanta Hospital here. A senior official of the hospital said, “The 63-year-old was admitted to our hospital on July 5 after he suffered a respiratory problem and was put on the ventilator since the time of his admission. He tested positive for Covid-19 on July 7. The patient also had other co-morbidities like hypertension, diabetes and pneumonia.”
The cumulative Covid-19 cases in the state have now risen to 3,339; of which 2,210 have recovered and 23 people have succumbed to the viral infection. Bokaro, which has detected only seven cases in the last six days, saw a steep jump with 26 persons testing positive. Ranchi reported 22 fresh cases while Koderma, Chatra, Latehar and Hazaribag were the other four districts which saw a double-digit increase in the number of new cases. Koderma detected 16 cases, Chatra 14, Latehar 11 and Hazaribag reported 10 cases.
Palamu reported seven cases while Giridih, Ramgarh and Lohardaga detected six cases each. Deoghar had five fresh infections while Dhanbad and Sahenganj reported four cases each. Godda and Gumla reported two each and Jamtara reported one case.