With 5,898 fresh cases, UP Covid tally crosses 2 lakh-mark

LUCKNOW: The Covid tally for UP crossed the two-lakh mark on Wednesday with the addition of 5,898 cases in the past 24 hours. With this, UP became home to about 6% of all cases in India. Among big states, UP ranks number five in the top states’ list led by Maharashtra followed by Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. With government authorities claiming to do everything to contain the epidemic, TOI takes a look at the status.
Last one lakh added in 23 days: It took 153 days to add one lakh cases in UP, but only 23 days for the next one lakh. This means that an estimated 4,300 cases were added every day in August. Also, cases jumped from 1.5 lakh to 2 lakh in just 11 days. Officials attribute monsoons as the main reason for surge in cases. “As the humidity levels are high pandemic virus gets many host particles to survive in the breathing range. Those not wearing masks are committing a crime against their dear ones,” said additional chief secretary, medical education department, Dr Rajneesh Dube.
One third cases from 7 dists: The pandemic has shifted its base from western UP to eastern districts with seven out of top 10 districts in terms of case positivity rate belonging to eastern part of the state. However, 37% of all cases belong to just seven districts, including Lucknow, Kanpur.
Case positivity below 5% despite rise: Health officials claimed that despite rise in Covid cases in August, the case positivity rate or the number of persons found positive among those tested has remained below 5% -- the benchmark approved by Union health ministry and WHO. “We are the only one to have conducted over 49 lakh tests in the country. Also, our daily average is more than one lakh,” said additional chief secretary, health and family welfare, Amit Mohan Prasad.
73% patients have recovered: With the addition of 3,808 discharges in the past 24 hours, the total number of recoveries reached 1,48,562. Health officials said while 80% of the total cases were asymptomatic, 30% were women. Demographic break up indicated that nearly 50% of the cases are in the 21-40 years, while 8.5% are above 60 years. Data indicated that less than 2% of the total patients have died, but 75% of the deaths have taken place among those with comorbid conditions.
50% cases in 24 hours from 10 dists: About 50% of the cases belonged to just 10 districts. The state also recorded 82 deaths in the past 24 hours with Gorakhpur accounting for maximum nine deaths.