Gujarat goes from 50k to 60k in 10 days

█ 60,285 cases of Covid-19 in state till now

Records highest-ever daily count of 1,159 cases in 24 hours; July tally nears 28k; State govt issues guidelines for Unlock-3; lifts night curfew

By Brendan Dabhi & Nischal Sanghavi

Gujarat on Thursday reported a new high of 1,159 Covid-19 cases, reaching a tally of 60,285.

Its total for just the month of July stands at 27,642. While Surat continued to be at the top of the list, the situation in Rajkot and Vadodara appears to be worsening.

Initially, Ahmedabad was the hotspot, reporting majority of the new cases daily. By June-end, Surat overtook Ahmedabad. Now, Rajkot and Vadodara have been reporting a steady rise in number of cases.

Commenting on the current situation, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that the rise of cases in these two districts need to be controlled. Rajkot on Thursday reported 86 cases, its highest so far. This included 53 in Rajkot city area. The district’s total has reached 1,625 cases. Rajkot Municipal Corporation carried out disinfection activity in 37 containment areas on Thursday.

Surat continued to report the highest number of cases, with 271cases on Thursday, followed by Ahmedabad with 157 cases. Vadodara had 96 cases. Bhavnagar had 46 cases, Jamnagar reported 40 , Junagadh 34 and Gandhinagar 37 cases. Apart from major districts, Bharuch reported 35 cases, followed by 34 in Surendranagar and 31 in Dahod. There were 28 in Banaskantha, 24 in Amreli, 23 in the Panchmahals and 22 each at Patan and Valsad.

Mehsana reported 18 cases, Mahisagar and Narmada had 16 cases each. There were 15 cases each at Kheda, Navsari and Sabarkantha. There were 13 each at Botad and Chotta Udepur, 12 each in Kutch and Morbi, and 11in Anand. Other districts reported cases in single digits.

State’s death toll reaches 2,418 so far

There were 22 deaths due to Covid-19 reported in Gujarat on Thursday. Of these, 6 were in Surat city and 5 in Ahmedabad city. There were 10 deaths in Surat, 2 each in Patan, Vadodara and Gandhinagar while one death was reported from Kutch. The death toll reached 2,418.

Of the 13,793 active Covid cases in hospitals across the state, the state health department stated that 84 were on ventilator support while 13,709 were in stable medical condition.

Six of G’nagar family +ve

Afamily of six members, all working as domestic help in Sector 19 in Gandhinagar, has tested positive for Covid-19, creating a wave of panic in the area, considered to be a VIP sector with most senior IAS officers residing there. However, corporation health officials have denied any IAS officer or politician coming in contact with this family.

Dr Kalpesh Goswami, medical health officer of Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation denied any IAS officer’s name surfacing during contact tracing. “The servants were living in a bungalow that is allotted to Army officials and just one elderly woman lives there. The adjoining bungalows do not have any occupants. Also, these family members did not have any connection with any official in the sector.”

Gandhinagar district reported 37 cases on Thursday of which 12 were in GMC limits while 25 were from rural areas. The district had reported 44 and 50 cases on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

Unlock 3: Shops to remain open till 8 pm; restaurants till 10 pm

In line with the Centre's guidelines for Unlock 3 to ease curbs amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Gujarat government on Thursday decided to lift the night curfew, allow shops to operate till 8 pm and permit restaurants to stay open till 10 pm.

As per a release issued after a high-level meeting headed by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, gyms and yoga centres will also be allowed to open from August 5.

“Night curfew will be completely lifted in the state from August 1,” the statement said.

Apart from this, all shops will be allowed to remain open till 8 pm, while restaurants can operate till 10 pm, it stated.

In keeping with the Centre's guidelines, the state government has decided not to allow schools, coaching classes, and cinema halls to open in the month of August.

“The state will follow the guidelines of the Centre regarding things that are not allowed to be open (like schools etc), the release stated.

Rupani had on Wednesday said the state government's aim was to ensure that the deadly infection does not spread even as economic activities continue in the state.

Religious functions will not be allowed for upcoming festivals in August and if the Covid-19 situation continues like this, festivals like Navratri will not be observed, the chief minister said.

Starting August 1, citizens stepping out without masks will be fined Rs 500 as opposed to the previous penalty of Rs 200, he had said.