Jharkhand set to cross 10,000 Covid cases, 100+ casualties

Ranchi: With 760 new infections in 24 hours, Jharkhand recorded its biggest single-day spike in new coronavirus cases with Ranchi recording 200-plus new infections in a day for the first time. The state also reported four more casualties in the same period, taking the toll to 94. Of the new infections, 74 were diagnosed late on Monday and most of them were from East Singhbhum.

Of particular concern for the health department officials in a state grappling with shortage of hospital beds and medical infrastructure, the number of active cases soared past the 5,000-mark. If the current trends continue, the state will cross the 10,000-mark in active cases and 100-mark in casualties in a couple of days. The state now has a caseload of 9,563, of which 5,485 are active and 3,984 have recovered (including a record 179 on Tuesday).

While the state capital recorded 241 cases (including 10 on Monday night), Palamu (121), Giridih (82) and Hazaribag (65) also registered their biggest one-day surges in new infections. Simdega (47), Koderma (42), Pakur (17) and Chatra and Garhwa (12 each) recorded new cases in double digits. A total of 7,665 Covid tests were conducted on Tuesday with 686 returning positive, indicating a positivity rate of 9%.

In Ranchi, three RPF constables, including a female, tested positive of the virus. The two male constables were lodged in the RPF’s barracks in Ranchi railway station along with 80 others, sources in the Ranchi railway division of South Eastern Railways (SER) said.

Among the casualties, a 62-year-old man, who was admitted to Hazaribag Medical College and Hospital (HMCH) on July 24 died on Tuesday afternoon, the doctors said. He was a patient of pneumonia and was suffering from other ailments. Overnight, three casualties were reported statewide. One death were reported each from Garhwa, East Singhbhum and Ramgarh.

Meanwhile, state health minister Banna Gupta reached Ranchi Sadar hospital on Tuesday after reports came in that the hospital’s medical staff were out protesting demanding vehicles for sample collection, alternative day leaves, incentives and on-duty meals. “I have spoken to NHM director Ravi Shankar Shukla and asked that a proposal be drafted promising better incentives and facilities for the health workers after studying the benefits being provided by other states,” Gupta told reporters after his inspection.