13,534 more get Covid, 97 dead in 24 hours in state

PATNA: There seems to be no respite from Covid-19 in the state with 13,534 more people testing positive for the virus and 97 succumbing to it in the last 24 hours. The 97 fresh deaths was the highest single-day toll in the state since the outbreak of the virus in March last year.
The state’s active caseload and toll have increased to 1,09,944 and 2,739, respectively.As results of 13,534 of 89,393 samples tested in the last 24 hours came positive, the positivity rate stood at 15.13%.
On Sunday, Patna accounted for 20 Covid deaths (the highest in a day in the district so far), West Champaran 11, Muzaffarpur nine, Bhagalpur six, Nawada five and Darbhanga five. Patna also registered the maximum number of new cases on Sunday at 2,748. Among other districts, Vaishali recorded 805 fresh cases, West Champaran 652, Nalanda 611, Begusarai 569, Gaya 544 and Bhagalpur 535.
Eleven more Covid patients died at Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) on Sunday, including eight from Patna. The youngest of the victim was a 38-year-old man from Rajendra Nagar and the eldest a 75-year-old man. Forty-seven Covid positive patients were admitted to the NMCH and 25 discharged on Sunday. The hospital had 378 Covid patients on Sunday.
AIIMS-Patna also reported 11 fresh Covid deaths. The victims included seven from Patna. While 27 patients were admitted to the hospital, 19 discharged on Sunday. Altogether 331 Covid patients were undergoing treatment at the hospital on Sunday.
Meanwhile, 59,835 eligible people were vaccinated in the state on Sunday. Of them, 31,042 received their first and 28,793 second doses. State health minister Mangal Pandey told reporters that Bihar has been allocated 16 lakh vaccine doses for the month of May for people in the age group of 18 to 44 years. Pandey said these beneficiaries will be given the slot for vaccination once the doses arrive. However, he did not specify when the vaccines will reach the state.
He said the state government has already decided to rope in 1,000 doctors. “Walk-in-interview of these doctors will be held on May 10. These doctors will be deployed for three months. Civil surgeons and superintendents of medical colleges and hospitals have also been given free hand to rope in any kind of human resource for next three months,” the minister added.
He said a 100-bed temporary Covid facility will start at Pataliputra sports complex from Monday and additional 100 beds will be added at ESIC-Bihta.