No new corona cases in 5 districts
gaurav.saigal@htlive.com
LUCKNOW : Five districts of UP, including Kannauj, Auraiyya, Chitrakoot, Kanpur Dehat and Shrawasti, have reported zero fresh Covid cases for a week (Feb 11 to 17).
Among these, Shrawasti also has the distinction of having zero active cases. This district had so far reported 1,348 cases and 18 deaths, as per the health department.
Experts said this was a welcome trend, but not a time to relax. “Many sectors that remained functional online are resuming in offline mode now. Physical classes have resumed in educational institutions. Movement in different sectors can bring back fresh cases,” said Dr Ved Prakash, HOD, pulmonary critical care medicine at KGMU.
“With job avenues opening up, the other significant sector is public and school transport wherein students and passengers sit close to each other. Here, if authorities ensure Covid protocol new cases can be checked,” said Dr Abhishek Shukla, secretary general, Association of International Doctors.
“Students, most of whom are young, have high immunity and do not show symptoms quickly. By the time they show symptoms, they may spread the infection to people at home and the most vulnerable will be the elderly,” said Dr Prakash, who
visited Meerut to give expert opinion when cases were rising there.
Eating joints, vegetable/other markets and shopping complexes are places where people are seen without masks and social distancing. These spots need better check and management so that people moving out do not bring home infection.
Uttar Pradesh has reported 6,02,410 cases and 8,707 deaths till now while Lucknow has reported the maximum 81,717 cases and 1,186 deaths. But the
state’s daily case count has come below 100, said officials.
Four new cases in Noida
According to the state health department bulletin, Gautam Budh Nagar district recorded four new cases of the coronavirus disease. The number of deaths remained at 91 with the last death recorded on January 5. The total number of active cases in the district was 46 on Wednesday, according to the state bulletin. The total number of cases was 25,446.
Ghaziabad recorded nine new cases, taking its active case count to 69 and the total case tally to 26,697. The death toll in the district due to the disease stood at 102 with the last death recorded on December 29, 2020.