129 more deaths as UP faces grim Covid battle
State records highest single-day spike of 30,596 fresh cases; CM warns hoarders, health minister says supply of Remdesivir, oxygen to be streamlined
LUCKNOW: As the state witnessed 129 more deaths due to Covid-19 complications and recorded its highest single-day spike of 30,596 fresh cases, the Uttar Pradesh government swung into action on multiple fronts on Sunday.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath tasked medical education minister Suresh Khanna to ensure hassle-free availability and supply of medical oxygen to hospitals. He also issued a warning to hoarders and black-marketeers as some disturbing reports started coming from the alleys of the state capital.
“It is a crime against humanity and no one dealing in the hoarding and black-marketeering of Covid-19 medicines should be spared. The police should work with the policy of zero-tolerance to instil fear in the minds of the culprits,” the chief minister said.
For his part, health minister Jai Pratap Singh said the supply of lifesaving oxygen and Remdesivir injections will be also streamlined from Monday.
“We hope from Monday, the hospitals in Uttar Pradesh will get adequate oxygen and Remdesivir supply. The state government has placed order for two lakh Remdesivir injection vials with the manufacturing companies,” he said.
The assertion came even as Lucknow logged 22 fatalities and there were 5,551 fresh infection
cases in the state capital with the present infrastructure failing to meet the increasing requirements for beds.
Just 11 of the total 552 ICU beds marked for Covid patients at 31 facilities were vacant. Similarly, 46 of the 776 high dependency unit (HDU) beds were vacant. Also, 666 isolation beds of the total 1449 were available.
“Covid beds are being increased with oxygen support and each district has been asked to add 200 such beds for Covid patients,” said Amit Mohan Prasad, additional chief secretary, medical health, UP, in a press conference on Sunday.
The tally of total Covid patients in Uttar Pradesh rose to 8,51,620 on Sunday and the death toll in the state went up to 9,830, said the state health department
The state capital’s tally of total cases stood at 1,45,422 and death toll touched 1,503.
“The recovery rate in Lucknow is 66.16%,” said Dr Abhishek Shukla, secretary general, Association of International Doctors. During the day, 2,348 patients were discharged—the highest in a day till now. With this, the total number of discharged patients reached 96,219.
Amid the Covid-19 spike, the state goes for panchayat elections on Monday after a 35-hour corona curfew aimed at breaking the virus chain.
Currently, the state has 1,91,457 active Covid patients of which 97,558 are in home isolation and 3,520 in private hospitals. Till now, 8,51,620 patients have been discharged after recovery.