COVID-19 cases jump past 3,000 in UP; Agra worst-hit with 678

As many as 73 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Uttar Pradesh, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 3,071. The death toll has also risen to 62.

Among the districts, Arga topped the list with 15 new cases reported on May 7. The district has witnessed 678 positive cases so far. While Meerut reported 10 new cases, Hapur saw seven, and Lucknow and Ghaziabad six each, a health department bulletin said, adding that Kanpur and Meerut reported one death each on May 7.

Out of 75 districts in the state, 67 have witnessed coronavirus infections. As of May 8, 1,250 people have recovered and 1,759 are undergoing treatment. Males account for 75.16 per cent of the total COVID-19 patients in the state, the bulletin added.

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According to state health secretary Amit Mohan Prasad, Uttar Pradesh has done the second-highest number of tests in the country. More than 1 lakh samples have been tested in private and government labs in the state, as of May 6.

Prasad added that the number of ventilators in the state had also increased to 1,300. Advising private hospitals engaged in non-COVID-19 health facilities to treat people without any fear, he said hospitals that are providing emergency services under Ayushman Bharat Scheme will get 50 per cent subsidy on PPE kits and masks.

(With agency inputs)