Haryana logs nine fatalities, 1,391 fresh Covid-19 cases

NO RELIEF Seven northern districts report about 45% of the new cases; 1,001 cured

CHANDIGARH: Haryana on Saturday recorded nine fatalities and 1,391 fresh Covid-19 infections, taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 61,987, as per the health bulletin.

Nine patients—two each in Karnal, Panchkula, Bhiwani, Yamunanagar and one in Gurugram—have succumbed to the virus.

Seven northern districts reported about 45% of the new infections on Saturday. These districts are Karnal (140), Ambala (98), Panchkula (96), Yamunanagar (87), Kurukshetra (75), Kaithal (73) and Panipat (65). Besides, about 33% of the new cases are from four national capital region (NCR) districts of Faridabad (158), Gurugram (124), Rewari (110) and Sonepat (75).

Among the other districts, Hisar reported 78 new infections followed by Bhiwani (61), Sirsa (42), Rohtak (36), Fatehabad (23), Mahendergarh (19), Palwal (11), Jhajjar and Nuh (10 each). The districts of Jind and Charkhi Dadri districts did not report any fresh infections.

Jhajjar DIG Ashok Kumar is among 10 persons who were found infected in the district. Principal medical officer Sanjay Dahiya said the DIG has tested positive for Covid-19 while his family members were found negative. “He has no symptoms but will remain in home isolation. We will collect samples of other policemen on Sunday,” he added.

PER DAY TESTING TOUCHES ALL TIME HIGH

Additional chief secretary (ACS), health, Rajeev Arora said the health authorities have ramped up testing in the past four days, a reason behind the increasing number of cases being reported in the state. “On Saturday, we conducted 24,769 tests, a new high in sampling so far. Our average per day testing in July was about 11,000 and 16,000 in August,” the

ACS said.

As per the medical bulletin, 1,001 more people have been cured, taking the total number of recoveries to 50,711. Active cases now stand at 10,606.

POWER MINISTER RANJIT SINGH CHAUTALA TESTS +VE

Haryana power and jails minister Ranjit Singh Chautala, 74, tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday.

The minister took to Twitter to announce his health status and said: “On the doctor’s advice, I will remain in home quarantine. I urge all those who met me recently to undergo the Covid test. My health is fine.”

Chautala had taken part in the one-day monsoon session of the Haryana assembly on Wednesday and met minister sand legislators. Besides Ranji tC haut ala, state agriculture minister JP Dalal and Karnal BJP MP Sanjay Bhatia addressed gatherings in villages of poll-bound Baroda assembly constituency, defying social distancing.

CM TO UNDERGO COVID TEST AGAIN

Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar will undergo a repeat Covid-19 test on August 31 after which the doctors will decide on further course of treatment. The private hospital in Gurugram where the CM is admitted said in its official statement: “The CM is afebrile, has slept well and has a normal appetite. On Saturday, he walked at least a kilometre. He will undergo a repeat Covid-19 test on Monday.”

Gian Chand Gupta, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker, who is also undergoing treatment in the same private hospital for Covid-19 is currently stable. He was shifted from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to isolation ward on Friday.

A senior health official privy to the matter, said, “Gupta has been doing well in the isolation ward. He will undergo some blood tests on August 31.”