Jharkhand has reported a fourfold rise in active cases of Covid-19 infection this month with the count of patients in Ranchi alone crossing the 1000 mark, triggering panic among locals amid the fear of stricter restrictions looming large over the capital, health officials said on Tuesday.
As per figures compiled by the National Health Mission (NHM), there were only 485 active Covid-19 patients in the State on March 1, and the number jumped to 1968 by Tuesday morning. In Ranchi, the count of patients grew alarmingly from 282 on March 1 to 1002 on Tuesday, NHM figures reveal.
While the government has intensified Covid testing and also strengthened the health infrastructure to cater to the sudden rise in cases, many residents of major cities in the state have shun facemasks and social distancing despite the significant rise in cases, say health officials. The government has launched mask-checking drives and strengthened vigil on roads and other public places, but if the trend continues, then Ranchi could be headed for an explosion of Covid cases, warn health experts.
In the wake of the rise in cases, Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Chhavi Ranjan on Tuesday directed mandatory Covid tests for staff working in restaurants and supermarkets across the district by April 8. These places, he said, attract huge crowds and the chances of transmission were higher if any of the staff working in these institutions is infected.
The Deputy Commissioner also directed builder associations and auto-rickshaw associations to get their staff tested at the earliest in a bid to avert further transmission among locals. Schools have also been directed to get students tested for Covid-19, a press communiqué from the Deputy Commissioner’s office stated.
Jharkhand reported the highest single-day-spike of 2021 on Monday with 314 people found infected by Covid-19 virus in 24 hours. The Covid toll in the State has also been on the rise lately.
The state reported three Covid deaths on Monday, taking the Covid toll in Jharkhand to 1110 and that in Ranchi alone to 256.
As per NHM data, with 357 casualties, East Singhbhum has reported the highest number of Covid fatalities in Jharkhand so far.
