Highest-ever spike in COVID-19 cases takes tally close to 3 lakh mark in Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow reported the highest-ever number of cases at 1,181 with 16 casualties followed by 413 in Kanpur with 7 deaths and Prayagraj which reported 341 new cases with 7 deaths

With 7042 cases reported on Friday, Uttar Pradesh witnessed the highest-ever spike in COVID-19 cases in the state, taking the tally to close to 3 lakh. The death toll touched 4282 with 76 fresh fatalities reported in a single day.

Lucknow reported the highest-ever number of cases at 1,181 with 16 casualties followed by 413 in Kanpur with 7 deaths and Prayagraj which reported 341 new cases with 7 deaths. The total COVID-19 cases touched the 2,99,045 mark.

Downplaying the spike, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Amit Mohan Prasad said that the positivity rate of COVID-19 patients was just 4.14 per cent when the national average is 8.44 per cent. “Thus the positivity rate of the state is just half than the average of the country,” he said.

He said that there were 67,321 active cases in the state while the recovered patients numbered 2,27,442, which included 5936 people who were discharged from hospitals today.

He added that 1,50,652 tests were done on a single day, of which 50,076 samples were tested using the RT-PCR protocol.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh government has issued fresh orders restricting private hospitals charging exorbitant money from COVID-19 patients on the pretext of providing extra facilities and consultation with doctors for patients suffering co-morbidity.

"All costs including doctors’ consultation fee and medical treatment are included in the total daily fee to be paid by the patients and no extra money can be charged," Prasad said.

The government has also allowed COVID-19 tests on demand in private labs and all hospitals without prescriptions with certain riders.