Covid-19: Gujarat becomes 2nd worst-hit, 39 deaths countrywide

NEW DELHI: The gravity of the Covid-19 outbreak continues to be grim in Maharashtra and Gujarat with the two western states accounting for more than 52% of the total 1,273 fresh cases recorded across the country on Wednesday. Of the 39 new deaths, 79% came from the two western states — 18 from Maharashtra and 13 from Gujarat.

With 229 fresh cases recorded in the last 24 hours, Gujarat on Wednesday emerged as the second worst affected state after Maharashtra, which reported 431 new cases. Just five days ago, Gujarat was at number six, with Delhi, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh — apart from Maharashtra — having more confirmed cases.

With 92 fresh cases (up from Tuesday’s 75) and 2,248 in all, Delhi is now the third worst affected state in the country. Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi alone account for over 48% of the total 21,355 cases so far. India’s death toll at the time of going to press was 683. With one more death, Delhi’s toll now stands at 48.

However, on the positive side, 16% of Covid-19 patients have recovered from the disease across states. Delhi has recorded maximum of 724 recoveries, followed by Tamil Nadu (662), Rajasthan (344) and Kerala (308).

With 431 new cases, Maharashtra’s figure now stands at 5,649. The total toll in the state now is 269 and Mumbai alone accounts for 161 of the deaths. Mumbai reported 10 deaths in the last 24 hours. Maharashtra’s case fatality rate is 4.76% while for Mumbai, which has total 3,683 cases, it is 4.37%. On the positive side, there is a 22% dip in cases in Maharashra compared to Tuesday. In the case of Mumbai, the dip is 45%.

With 13 deaths on Wednesday, Gujarat’s toll rose to 103, becoming the second state after Maharashtra to cross the 100-mark. Out of the 13 deaths, nine were recorded from Ahmedabad alone while three were from Vadodara and one from Valsad. Gujarat’s current recovery rate is 7.4%.

Delhi added one Covid-19 death on Wednesday, that of a 40-year-old woman, a resident of Jahangipuri, who passed away during treatment at Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital in Rohini four days ago. Test results confirmed on Wednesday that she was positive, after which all 57 healthcare workers in the hospital who had come in her contact were advised self-quarantine.

UP recorded 101 new Covid-19 cases and no fresh deaths. The state's tally stands at 1,465.

In Rajasthan, 153 new cases were recorded, taking the total cases to 1,888. A 55-year-old woman, who succumbed while undergoing treatment at Sawai Man Singh Hospital, was confirmed positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday. With this, Rajasthan’s total toll has reached 27.

One person died and 15 tested positive for Covid-19 in Telangana taking the total count of cases in the state to 943 and the death toll to 23.

Andhra Pradesh registered 56 new cases as the tally went up to 813. It also reported two more deaths, taking the toll to 24.