Patna accounts for 15% of total Covid-19 cases in Bihar

PATNA: Patna has accounted for over 15% of the total Covid-19 cases in the state so far, according to data shared by the health department. Overall, 12 districts in the state have so far accounted for 50% of total Covid cases in the state. The caseload on north Bihar districts has increased manifold in the last few days.
Of the 1,42,156 Covid cases registered in the state till Thursday, 21,833 were from Patna. Other districts with large number of cases included Muzaffarpur (6,226), Bhagalpur (5,782), Begusarai (5,486), East Champaran (5,269), Madhubani (4,905), Gaya (4,779), Katihar (4,723), Nalanda (4,699), Rohtas (4,496) Saran (4,460) and Purnia (4,263).
Asked about rising cases in Patna, divisional commissioner Sanjay Agarwal said, “Patna has high population density and it is also an urban centre. Even other urban centres of the country have witnessed large number of cases. Testing has been increased manifold in the district to detect Covid cases.”
Patna DM Kumar Ravi said despite rise in Covid cases, essential activities could not be suspended. “Transportation and services offered by police, civic body and administration employees are essential services. Many of these people also visit hospitals and are at the risk of contracting the virus and passing on to others. Also, Patna is the hub of commercial activities where movement of people is large. We just cannot stop activities at fruit markets or wholesale medicine market,” he added.
Officials said Muzaffarpur and Bhagalpur districts also witness large scale commercial activities, leading to increase in number of cases.
Of late, north Bihar districts are also registering large number of Covid cases. The last one week’s data shows that after Patna, districts like Araria, Madhubani, Purnia, East Champaran and Kishanganj account for large number of cases.
For instance, Araria, which had 736 active cases till Wednesday, registered 673 cases in the past one week. Same goes with Madhubani, which witnessed 698 cases in a week, Purnia 570 cases and East Champaran 687 cases. These districts are among the top 10 districts with the highest number of active cases in Bihar.
Health department principal secretary Pratyaya Amrit said since testing has been ramped up in the state, cases are being reported from all districts. “The idea is to test more samples and curb the spread of the virus,” he added.
Madhubani Medical College principal Dr Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said thanks to awareness even in the rural areas, people are voluntarily coming up for tests. “As a result, number of cases has increased in the region,” he added.