12 Covid deaths, 630 fresh cases in state

Ranchi: Jharkhand reported 630 cases and 12 casualties in 24 hours until 10pm on Monday, including 99 cases and one casualty reported late on Sunday night. On Monday, 531 samples of the 6,252 tested returned positive, indicating a positivity rate of 8.4%. The total number of Covid-19 cases in Jharkhand now stands at 18,786; of which 8,849 are active, 9,748 have recovered and 189 have succumbed.

Health department officials will be concerned as the virus now seems to be spreading in all districts barring Jamtara and Dumka and Santhal Pargana, where testing remains low, sources said. These two districts along the Bengal border have reported just 352 cases till date, a figure that has taken epidemic experts by surprise.

Just 24 hours after Garhwa recorded its biggest single-day spike with 85 fresh cases on Sunday, Palamu reported 60 fresh cases taking the district tally to 123 reported in last two days. East Singhbhum and Ranchi reported 67 and 62 cases respectively.

East Singhbum continued to dominate the casualty chart with five casualties on Monday. The lone death reported late on Sunday night too came from East Singhbhum taking the total number of deaths in the district to 72.

Sahebganj and West Singhbhum and recorded two casualties each while Garhwa and Deoghar recorded on each. “All 12 casualties reported between had several age-related comorbidities and were admitted to various Covid hospitals after testing positive for viral infection,” said a health department official.