Continuing the downward trend, Uttar Pradesh recorded 1,514 fresh cases of novel coronavirus infection during the past 24 hours while there were 115 COVID-19 deaths during this period, according to the figures released by the government on Wednesday evening.
For the first time in nearly two months of the COVID-19 second wave surge in the state, the number of active cases sharply declined by a significant 93 per cent from its peak on April 30.
The active COVID-19 cases in the densely populated state of 240 million are now below 30,000 since its peak which was capped on April 30. The figure has shown a remarkable reduction by falling to just 28,694 on Wednesday from a high of 3,10,783 in April, officials here said. With the recovery of about 4,939 COVID-19 patients in the last 24 hours, the state has so far seen 16,44,511 people being cured of the deadly infection. The number of containment zones also reduced to just 13,702. The government has directed hospitals to resume outdoor patients department (OPD) services with restrictions and compliance with the Covid prevention guidelines.
The daily positivity rate -- the number of positive cases against the total tests done -- on Wednesday dipped to 0.45 per cent in UP. It has been below 1 per cent for more than a week now. The positivity rate was at its highest at 16.84 per cent on April 24. In a significant development, as many as 64 districts so far have been exempted from Covid curfew after their patient count came down below 600 on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the highest coronavirus positive fresh cases (96) were reported from Meerut during the past 24 hours while Gorakhpur reported the highest 11 COVID-19 deaths and 60 fresh cases. Kanpur recorded 10 deaths and 27 fresh cases. In Lucknow, there are still 1,675 active cases as on Wednesday 54 fresh cases and eight deaths were reported even as 322 COVID-19 patients recovered.