Uttar Pradesh also logged four deaths.
Uttar Pradesh has reported a massive surge in Covid cases ahead of state elections that are less than a month away. The 7,695 fresh cases reported over the last 24 hours are 13 times what was recorded last week. Last Sunday, the state had recorded 552 fresh cases.
The biggest figures came from state capital Lucknow (1,115 ) and Noida near Delhi (1149). The state also logged four deaths. The government attributed it to the rising number of tests, saying 2.22 lakh samples have been tested in the last 24 hours.
So far, the only restrictions announced are the extension of school closure till January 16 and night curfew.
The school closure will apply only to physical classes. The online classes will continue as scheduled.
The night curfew will also continue, said the state, which bore the brunt of the second wave of Covid last year. The images of thousands of bodies buried on the banks of Ganga or flowing down the river, had evoked shock across the country.
The government said it is focussing on vaccination and has decided to innoculate all children between 15 to 18 years of age by January 15.
While reviewing the Covid-19 situation across the state in a high-level meeting with senior officials today, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said special camps should be organised in secondary schools and it should be ensured that "100 per cent of adolescents receive their first dose by the end of this week".
The big challenge for the state will be to keep the Covid numbers down in the run-up to the elections, with only 52 per cent adults having received their second vaccine dose,
The Election Commission has barred all political rallies in the five states where polls are due till January 15, though public meetings and door-to-door campaigns are allowed, subject to certain restrictions.
