Smaller districts new hot spots in Madhya Pradesh

Khandwa city in Nimad region, 271 kilometres north west of Bhopal, with a population of about 2 lakh as per 2011 census, witnessed as many as 90 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, most of them from a colony inhabited by trading community members whereas in the same period, Indore, with a population of about 20 lakh (as per 2011 census), added 92 new patients, as per heath department data.

Khandwa is among the smaller districts emerging as a new Covid hot spot in the state.

Burhanpur, a neighbouring district, on the Maharashtra border, is another district which is witnessing a spurt in new cases . On April 28, the city had its first Covid patient. In the past 20 days, it has registered 195 positive cases; and 11 deaths. The other smaller districts worrying the government are Khargone, Dhar, Raisen, Dewas, Mandsaur and Neemuch.

As many as 45 of 52 districts have been affected by the disease, which has claimed 248 lives so far among 4977 cases. Dr Yogesh Sharma, an epidemiologist in Khandwa said, “The spurt is because of a particular locality reporting most of the cases. We are tracing those who came in contact with these people.”

Burhapur collector Praveen Singh, said, “Initially some of those who tested positive for coronavirus happened to be public figures. Contact tracing suggested that many contracted the virus from them.”

Prakash, a social activist from Khandwa, said, “An alarming increase in Covid cases is quite unfortunate. Had the administration been alert this situation would have been averted.”

Health minister Narottam Mishra said, “The situation is under control. The recovery rate has gone up to more than 46%.