The COVID-19 spurt continued in Uttar Pradesh as 4,228 new cases were reported on Friday and one person succumbed to the novel coronavirus in the last 24 hours.
Additional Chief Secretary (Medical and Health) Amit Mohan Prasad said that there were 12,327 active cases in the state, of which 11,959 patients were in home isolation and in the last 24 hours, 119 patients were cured of the viral infection.
A maximum of 721 cases were reported from Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida), followed by 607 in Ghaziabad, 577 in Lucknow and 411 in Meerut. In all these districts, active cases have crossed the 1,000 mark.
The only COVID-19 death was reported from Maharajganj.
Prasad said that despite its large population density, the spread of novel coronavirus had been successfully controlled.
“Under the stringent containment mechanism implemented to check spread of COVID-19, the government has not only imposed night curfew across the state but also has stepped up vigilance in all 75 districts and surveillance on the state borders,” he said.
Nearly 73,000 surveillance committees, which played an effective role in bringing down the spread of coronavirus last year, have been reactivated in both urban and rural areas in light of the third wave of COVID-19 to monitor and check the spread of infection. Industrial units have been asked to set up Covid Help Desks and daycare centres.
“The Integrated Covid Command and Control Centre (ICCCC) has been made functional 24×7 and the chief minister has directed the Health and Medical Education department to keep monitoring availability of medical resources as well as treatment facilities in all government and private medical institutions of the state,” he said.
In addition, the availability of essential medicines is being ensured by the Health department in all the districts. To ensure the health and safety of the people of the state, the government has also initiated doorstep distribution of medical kits from this week itself.
Over one crore medical kits will be distributed by the Uttar Pradesh Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (UPMSCL). General Manager of UPMSCL, Dr Rajkumar, informed that medical kits have been prepared for both asymptomatic and symptomatic patients and are being distributed. The Covid medicine kits comprise different medicines for different age groups of people. Kits for children from birth to 1 year, and 1-5 years contain paracetamol drops, ORS and multivitamin drops. For 5-12 years, it has paracetamol tablets, Ivermectin 6 mg and Vitamin B complex. While Azithromycin 500, Ivermectin 12 mg, Vitamin D3, Vitamin C, Zinc, Vitamin B complex and paracetamol tablets are provided to those above 12 years.
In order to protect both lives and livelihoods of the people in the state, the chief minister has instructed officials to ensure complete awareness regarding Covid control measures among the people. He has appealed to the people to get vaccinated and to follow Covid protocol, including wearing face masks, sanitising hands frequently and maintaining physical distance of two yards.