Covid-19 cases explode as 15,853 more test +ve in Bihar

PATNA: The Coronavirus cases are exploding across the state with the biggest single-day spike of 15,853 people testing positive for the virus in the last 24 hours on Friday. The fresh Covid count was out of the 98,169 samples tested, taking the positivity rate to 16.14%, which is also the highest recorded in Bihar so far. As per the government data, 80 people succumbed to the virus and the overall toll has mounted to 2,560.
With the increase in the number of new cases, active caseload also reached 1,05,399.Most of the official deaths were from Patna where 26 people died, followed by Bhagalpur (9), Muzaffarpur (9), Nalanda (6), Darbhanga (4) and Gaya (4). These were the official data and people claimed the number could be higher as several people were dying in their houses without test across the state.
Of the 15,853 new cases, the maximum 2,844 were from Patna, taking the district tally to 16,125. After Patna, Gaya reported the maximum 1203 cases, followed by Nalanda (881), Begusarai (786), Muzaffarpur (688), Purnia (613), West Champaran (573) and Samastipur (500).
Eleven deaths were reported from Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH), including six from Patna alone. The youngest among the deceased was a 28-year-old woman from Simali Chak locality. NMCH admitted 46 positive patients and discharged 28 as there were 373 patients undergoing treatment in the hospital as on Friday.
AIIMS-Patna reported five deaths, including four from the city. The youngest deceased was a 48-year-old woman from Ashiana-Digha Road, who had died a day before. While 41 patients were admitted, 14 got discharged. There were 331 Covid patients in the hospital. Also, of the total 1522 samples tested at AIIMS-P lab through RT-PCR method, 559 were found positive, indicating a very high positive rate.
Meanwhile, 74,614 beneficiaries got Covid-19 vaccines on Friday, including 42,530 who got the first shot. So far, 59.73 lakh beneficiaries have got the first shot in Bihar and 11.80 lakh of them have taken both the doses.
Though the central government had announced the vaccination drive for 18+ people from May 1, it will not start in Bihar on the scheduled date as the state has not received the vaccines it had ordered.
Virus update
New cases: 15,853
Total cases: 4,70,317
Recoveries: 3,62,356
Deaths: 2,560
Suicides: 2
Active cases: 1,05,399