Active cases cross 500-mark in Noida

Gautam Budh Nagar reported 103 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, taking the active case tally to over 527. This is the first time since the third wave in February that active cases in the district have crossed the 500mark. Meanwhile, across Uttar Pradesh, 170 cases were reported on Thursday, with Gautam Budh Nagar contributing to nearly 61% of the state’s total cases.

During the third wave, a total of 31,137 cases were reported in Gautam Budh Nagar in January--the highest-ever monthly tally of cases in the district. This reduced to 3,244 in February and further 521 in March. However, the total number of cases in April is already 753 so far.

According to data from the health department, 41 people recovered in the district in the last 24 hours. Cases among children also saw a marginal decline as 18 of the 103--around 18.1%--new cases on Thursday were patients under the age of 18 years. For the past one week, cases among children have comprised 20-30% of the daily cases.

“It is good that the cases among children are reducing. We were expecting this. Several children had also been falling sick because of the heat. Lowered immunity because of the heat and exposure to the virus in these conditions may have been a reason for higher cases among children,” said Dr Manoj Kushwaha, district surveillance officer.

Meanwhile, a 70-year-old woman was admitted to the Noida Covid Hospital on Thursday. Doctors say that her condition is not serious but is under observation because of comorbidities.

With active cases increasing, the chief medical officer (CMO)DR Sunil Sharma has also alerted Sharda Hospital regarding the reservation of L3 beds for Covid patients.

“We have already readied the Noida Covid Hospital for minor cases. In case there are serious cases, the CMO has asked Sharda hospital to be prepared with L3 beds at a notice of twothree hours,” said Dr Kushwaha.

Officials of the Sharda Hospital said that 700 beds have already been reserved for Covid patients, including 150 beds that have oxygen support.

On Thursday, the district magistrate also inspected the vaccination camp organised at Delhi Public School, Noida, where 95 children were vaccinated. Officials are organising more camps in schools to improve the rate of vaccination among children.