Covid entering new territories, hits over 30 States/UTs; 869 cases in a day raise total to 7,600; 246 dead
Despite 21-day lockdown which entered the 17th day on Friday, the deadly coronavirus is rapidly finding new areas in the country with positive cases crossing 7,600, and taking 246 lives. More than 30 States and Union territories in the country are now hit by coronavirus.
Friday saw India recording more than 800 cases in a day for the second time. According to figures collected from States till 11 pm, the day saw addition of 869 cases.
While Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Rajasthan and Kerala were among the some of the worst-hit region, now the virus is spreading its tentacles far and wide, and that too, rapidly.
There has been sudden spurt in cases in Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand, etc, in the past two days, leaving the State Governments in a jitter. Assam too reported first death on Friday.
Districts like Hyderabad, Kasaragod, Indore (MP), Pune, Chennai and New Delhi have reported more than 40 per cent of the total cases and the rest from other districts, which had so far reported far less numbers.
Gujarat reported 113 new Covid-19 positive cases adding to the number of positive cases to 378, which includes 33 discharge and 19 deaths. Areas like Ahmedabad, Patan and Vadodara have emerged new hotspots with 55, 9 and 37 more cases respectively on Friday.
Tamil Nadu reported 77 new cases taking the total tally in the State to 911, said Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary CS Shanmugam, while Mumbai continue to be worst hit with 218 Covid-19 positive cases and 10 deaths. Total positive cases in the city have risen to 993 with death toll at 64, as per the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
The first corona death of Assam, also the first in the northeastern region, was reported from Hailakandi district in its southern part.
After one death, of the total 33 positive cases in five northeastern States — Assam has 28 cases followed by Manipur (2), Mizoram (1), Arunachal Pradesh (1) and Tripura (1).
Tamil Nadu has reported 863 Covid-19 cases, the second second-highest number in the country, 21 recoveries and eight Covid-19 deaths while the desert State, Rajasthan which is being recommended for its Bhilwara model of containment, has 520 Covid-19 patients, 51 were added on Friday. More cases trickled in from Jodhpur, Bansawra and Jaipur.
Increasing number of cases from Bhopal and Indore in Madhya Pradesh too has become a cause of worry to the State Government. Kerala is the fifth most affected State in the country with 455 patients of coronavirus.
Jammu & Kashmir, which had a few cases initially, is witnessing sharp rise in the cases at 166 cases of the coronavirus disease till date in the Union territory. Out of which, eight people have been cured and eight others have died. Punjab has recorded 151 cases, including 21 cases on Friday, of the respiratory illness till date. Eight patients of Covid-19 have died and four have been sent home in this northern State.