LUCKNOW: While a record 3,765 new cases and 57 deaths were reported in the state, an assessment of Covid data revealed that the number of active coronavirus cases in Uttar Pradesh registered a 386% rise since June 30.
The new cases took the state tally to 81,099, while the total number of deaths reached 1,587. Active cases refer to the total number of positive cases.
Derived by adjusting the number of patients discharged and fresh cases, it is seen as a measure of the current extent of the pandemic.
According to the data, the number of active cases on June 30 was 6,711 which increased to 32,649. The clear addition of 25,938 cases translated into an increase of 386%. In fact, in comparison to the last week, active cases this week have doubled. While between July 19 and July 25 there were 5,188 active cases, the figure reached 10,197 on Thursday.
The cases have increased rapidly since the first week of July. There were 942 active infections in the first week of July, while the number rose to 3,863 in the second week. It went up to 5,774 in the third week and declined marginally in the fourth week to rest at 5,188.
Health officials attributed the increase to the state's aggressive testing policy. "Over 16 lakh tests have been conducted in the state between June 24 and July 30 which is over 70% of the total 22 lakh tests conducted so far," said additional chief secretary, health and family welfare, Amit Mohan Prasad urging people not to get worried about the numbers. "There is no need to worry. If detected on time, any one can defeat the virus in a matter of 10-12 days. But it is important to get one self tested," he added.
Meanwhile, of the new cases, Lucknow topped with 485 cases followed by Kanpur Nagar where 208 cases were reported. Varanasi followed with 153 cases. Cities which saw 75 plus cases included: Prayagraj (133), Moradabad (125), Gautam Budh Nagar (110), Ballia (100), Bareilly (99), Kannauj (91),Ghaziabad (85), Gorakhpur (83), Rampur (81) and Saharanpur (77).
In terms of deaths, Varanasi topped the chart with seven casualties, while Kanpur and Gorakhpur followed with six and five deaths respectively. Bareillyand Rae Bareli reported four deaths each, while Mirzapur saw three deaths.
Lucknow, Meerut, Saharanpur, Shahjahanpur, Bahraich, Kaushambhi and Hathras saw two deaths each. In Ambedkarnagar, Banda, Pratapgarh, Amroha,Bhadoi, Pilibhit, Sultanpur, Mainpuri, Barabanki, Bulandshahr, Moradabad, Agra, Prayagraj and Gautam Budh Nagar one death each was recorded.