Lko reports zero Covid deaths after 4 months, 294 new cases

For the first time in four months, the state capital recorded zero Covid-19 related deaths on Wednesday but the rise in cases in western Uttar Pradesh, particularly in the National Capital Region (NCR), remained a matter of concern for the state government.

Lucknow recorded 294 new coronavirus infection cases on the day, up by 123 from 171 on Tuesday. As for the statewide Covid-19 infection tally, it reached 5,03,159 with 1,911 new cases and there were 20 deaths across UP in the last 24 hours. The previous instance of zero Covid related deaths in Lucknow was recorded on July 9. Nevertheless, the state capital continues to top the chart of Covid related fatalities with 922 deaths so far.

The state has reported 7,281 deaths so far. Kanpur reported five deaths, Meerut two and Gautam Buddha Nagar and Varanasi one each in the last 24 hours.

While Lucknow reported the maximum 294 fresh cases, Meerut recorded 157 new infection cases, Ghaziabad 136, Prayagraj 83, Gautam Buddha Nagar 80, Kanpur 76, Agra 65, Varanasi 53 and Gorakhpur 31.

Additional chief secretary Navneet Sehgal said after the spike in Delhi, the districts in west UP, particularly Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar and Meerut witnessed a rise in Covid cases. The state government had already alerted the districts administration and was working to control the spread, he said.

On Tuesday, 1.55 lakh sample tests were conducted across UP taking the tally of sample tests to 1.65 crore.

To identify vulnerable people, the state government had launched focused sample tests across the state and the second round was being organised in all the districts, Sehgal said.