JAIPUR: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold a video conference with chief ministers to discuss the management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the last meeting with the chief ministers on June 17, the indicators of COVID-19 and the economic scenario of states have changed a lot due to the long-term lockdown, Gehlot said in a letter to Modi.

The chief minister said the country's battle with the pandemic has reached a decisive phase.

All states have tried to stop the spread of COVID-19 with their full strength and resources.

At the same time, he said, financial support has also been provided to those who have lost their means of livelihood in the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic.

Apprising the prime minister of the Rajasthan government's efforts to tackle COVID-19, Gehlot said 15.26 lakh samples had been collected in the state till August 1.

The recovery rate of infected people is 77.29 per cent, the death rate is 1.62 per cent and the testing capacity is 45,000 per day, he said.

The state recorded 12 COVID-19 deaths on Sunday, taking the total number of fatalities due to the disease to 706, the health department said.

The state also reported 1,167 fresh coronavirus cases, pushing the total caseload to 44,410.

Of them, 12,488 are active, it said.

A total of 29,697 people have been discharged after treatment, a health department official said.

Five people died in Jaipur, three in Ajmer, two each in Alwar and Nagaur, the official said.

In Jaipur, the death toll from the disease has risen to 200, followed by 84 in Jodhpur, 53 in Bharatpur, 47 in Ajmer, 42 in Bikaner, 35 in Kota, 31 in Pali, 30 in Nagaur, 18 in Alwar and 15 in Dholpur.

Of the 1,167 new cases, 142 were recorded in Kota, 128 in Alwar, 127 in Jaipur, 105 in Pali, 95 in Ajmer, 84 in Jodhpur, 77 in Bikaner, 49 in Barmer, 43 in Sikar, 42 in Baran, 41 in Jhalawar, 33 in Nagaur, 30 in Udaipur, 22 in Bharatpur, 21 in Ganganagar, 20 each in Sirohi and Dungarpur, 16 in Sawaimadhopur, 15 in Jalore, 11 in Churu, 9 in Pratapgarh, 8 in Karauli, 6 each in Chittorgarh and Tonk, 5 in Rajsamand, three each in Hanumangarh and Jhunjhunu and two each in Banswara, Bhilwara and Dausa.

Gehlot also said he has written to PM, requesting him to declare the locust attack a national disaster.

"The locust outbreak in the state is very fierce. Barring two or three districts, all 33 locusts have been attacked by locusts. The crops are getting damaged," Gehlot told reporters in Jaisalmer.

He said he has requested the Prime Minister to declare the locust outbreak a national disaster.

Locusts come to India via Africa and other countries including Pakistan and they are breeding at a large scale here.

Gehlot reached Jaisalmer from Jaipur on Sunday after meeting state Congress MLAs holed up in a resort in tight security.

"How long can the farmer tolerate crop damage? They should get full compensation from the government. I hope the Prime Minister will pay attention to this," Gehlot said.

He said in the video conference of chief ministers with PM Modi too, he had raised the issue of the loss to farmers due to the locust attack.

Gehlot said Prime Minister Modi had taken interest in it and asked about the affected districts.