Punjab records steepest surge as 1,049 test +ve

CHANDIGARH: In the biggest singleday spike, Punjab on Thursday reported 26 Covid-related deaths and 1,049 fresh infections. With this, the state’s death toll is reached 517 and the positive patients’ count to 20,891. As per the state government’s bulletin, 13,659 patients have recovered from the virus so far. There are 6,715 active cases in the state.

DHARAMSHALA:: Himachal Pradesh on Thursday recorded 131 fresh Covid-19 infections, taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 3,047, officials said.

This is also the biggest singleday spike in virus cases in the hill state. The state has crossed the 3,000 mark in 139 days since the first case was reported.

Of the new cases, 47 people tested positive in Kullu district, 21 in Hamirpur, 16 in Solan, 14 in Una, 9 in Sirmaur, seven each in Mandi and Bilaspur, four each in Kangra and Shimla and one each in Kinnaur and Shimla.

Kangra chief medical officer Dr Gurdarshan Gupta said Kangra district’s tally of Covid-19 cases has reached 500 after four more people tested positive for the virus. Among the patients is a 42-year-old man from Dari locality of Dharamshala town. A 35-year-old woman and her sixyear-old daughter, residents of Charri village in Shahpur subdivision have also contracted the disease. They are primary contacts of a Covid-19 patient.

The fourth patient is a 45-yearold man from Baidi village. He has a travel history to Bihar on July 30. Three patients have

been shifted to Covid-care centre Dadh and the fourth to Covidhospital Dharamshala.

Six people have tested positive in Sirmaur district. Deputy commissioner RK Pruthi said all new cases are from Paonta Sahib. Active cases in the state are 1,142 while 1,815 patients have cured