UP sees huge jump in COVID-19 active cases

Lucknow

: COVID-19 has registered a whopping increase in the active cases during the last 10 days in Uttar Pradesh. The number of active cases has increased from 74 to 262 in 10 days — a jump of 354 per cent.

In the last 24 hours, the infection was confirmed in 29 patients. The number of active cases in the state stood at 71 on March 15. On Sunday, the highest number of 78 new positive cases were found in UP so far in March.

Of these, 39 were from Lakhimpur Kheri — mostly students of a government school, who were tested during contact tracing after a teacher from their school was confirmed with infection.

The COVID-19 positivity rate (the percentage of all coronavirus tests that turn out to be positive) has also increased from 0.6 to 1.1 per cent in the past ten days, alarming the authorities.

An alert has been issued to health care officials of seven districts with the highest number of active cases including Noida, Ghaziabad, Lucknow, Meerut, Bulandshahr, Lakhimpur Kheri to increase contact tracing and testing.

With these, 42 districts of UP have come under the grip of COVID-19. Speaking to TOI, director, communicable diseases, UP, AK Singh said the government is taking all possible measures to control the spread of the virus.

Under this, guidelines have been issued to all the districts of the state to control its spread and treatment.

"We are also conducting a mock drill of hospitals across the state to check the preparedness of the staff in case of an escalation. Besides, the integrated COVID-19 Command and Control Centers in the districts have been put on alert."

Dr Singh further said that there is no need to panic as UP has not reported any case requiring hospitalisation due to COVID-19 so far in March. However, there were 11 patients who were incidentally diagnosed with COVID-19 after being admitted to different hospitals.

"We are seeing a similar pattern of increase in infections since the onset of COVID-19 in the state. However, more than 95 per cent people have been vaccinated, which reduces the risk of severe disease," he added.

He advised people — especially people with health conditions like cancer, transplant patients, diabetics and the elderly and children — to follow the protocol.