50% drop in cases in state in a fortnight: Govt data

Fifteen cities in Rajasthan report daily less than 100 Covid cases in a day

The active Covid-19 cases in Rajasthan have halved for the first time in a fortnight, shows the health department data. On Monday, the state logged 99,875 active Covid-19 cases, which were the lowest since May 9 when the state had 200,189 active cases of the virus infection.

It was also for the first time in a month that the active cases have dropped below 100,000 mark. Rajasthan had 182,301 active cases on May 1, which escalated to 199,147 on May 7. Within two days, the cases crossed the tally of 200,000 recording 200,189 active cases.

The recoveries which had reached a plateau have also shot up. On Monday, there were 812,775 cumulative recoveries and discharges, a significant increase since May 9 when 550,853 recoveries were logged.

The health experts believe these could be early signs that the state may be slowly recovering from the second spell of the pandemic. “What is unfolding right now is very much in tandem with our earlier estimation that daily infections and active cases will decline drastically after May 15,” said Dr Ajit Singh, a senior doctor at SMS medical college and hospital in Jaipur.

The daily positive cases are also falling rapidly for five days now. On Monday, the state logged 4,414 cases, the lowest during the course of the second wave. The daily infections in the state had been hovering around 15,000. It was for the first time that such a drastic decline was reported.

“Situation has improved due to stringent curbs on people’s movements and social gathering. We hope that these cases will continue to plummet in the following weeks,” Singh said.

The second spell of the Covid-19 may be finally easing in Jaipur too. The state capital registered 804 new cases on Monday and 21,961 active cases, the lowest in May. Jaipur was particularly blighted by the pandemic. The cases were spiraling out of control, while health infrastructure seemed to be on the brink.

Situation had seemed particularly grim on May 2, when the city reported 4,456 new infections and 42,756 active cases.

Talking to HT, senior professor at SMS medical college and hospital, Dr Raman Sharma said these figures present a major relief even if for a brief period of time. “There is a growing concern among people about the prevalence of black fungus (mucormycosis). This very fear has also led to people rarely stepping out,” he said, adding that a persistent decline in cases would ease pressure on the healthcare system. “What we are witnessed right now is a direct impact of lockdown. This has given a much-needed breathing space for hospitals which were stretched to the limit,” he said, adding that recoveries have speeded up in the state.

According to Dr Sharma, the availability of hospital beds has also increased. Jaipur had 1,757 oxygen beds and 66 ICU beds with ventilators available, as per data available on the government portal. Jodhpur, the city with second-highest cases, had 1,041 oxygen beds and 44 ICU beds with ventilators.

Jalore district also became the first in the state with the lowest cases. The city reported only five new cases on Monday and had 313 active cases. “We had undertaken a very extensive door-todoor survey to track down people with influenza-like symptoms. People who had these symptoms were isolated within their homes and provided medicines,” said district collector, Jalore, Namrata Virshni, adding that SDMS ensured that no large gatherings could take place.

“We also issued maximum challans under Jodhpur division,” Virshni said, adding that all these steps timely put a check on covid-19 graph in Jalore.

Apart from Jalore, there were 14 out of 33 districts in Rajasthan that reported daily infections of less than 100 on Monday.

Bharatpur (71), Bundi (37), Bhilwara (65), Dausa (46), Dholpur 47, Dungarpur (92), Karauli (63), Sawai Madhopur (11) and Rajsamand (71) districts reported cases falling rapidly even as a door-to-door survey picks up the pace.

The doctors said that while the situation is gradually improving, people need to remember that the state has not been cleared of the pandemic. “As curbs ease up in following days, we might see some flareups,” Dr Singh said. JAIPUR: