→UP sees biggest spike of 33,212 cases

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday reported 187 more deaths and 33,212 fresh Covid-19 cases, both figures the highest for a day in the state, according to official data.

The state’s death toll has now gone up to 10,346 and the total caseload stands at 94,2511.

Among the fresh cases, Lucknow recorded the most 5,902 infections, followed by Varanasi 2,564, Prayagraj 1,828, Kanpur 1,811, Meerut 1,273, Gorakhpur 987, Jhansi 873, Agra 581, Gautam Budha Nagar 536, Ghaziabad 465 and Moradabad 441.

Lucknow also recorded 21 more deaths, Kanpur 15, Varanasi 12, Gorakhpur 10, Prayagraj 6 and Gautam Buddha Nagar and Meerut four each. The state has 77,989 containment zones at present. Uttar Pradesh has tested 3,88,92,416 Covid-19 samples till now, including 2,25,269 in the last 24 hours. Till now, 6,89,900 patients have been discharged in the state, including 14,198 in the last 24 hours. “The number of patients recovering is rising now and people should not be afraid,” said additional chief secretary (information) Navneet Sehgal at a press conference.

Giving details of the increase in the number of Covid-19 hospital beds, he said 350 of 700 beds had already been readied at the Balrampur Hospital in the state capital. Additional chief secretary (medical health and family welfare) Amit Mohan Prasad said the private labs were also conducting Covid-19 tests and there was no restriction on them, including home collection of samples.