by: Navjeevan Express

Gujarat: 11 new COVID-19 cases take state tally to 186; no fresh recovery or death

NE NEWS SERVICE

GANDHINAGAR, APRIL 8

Coronavirus positive cases in Gujarat mounted to 186 on Wednesday after the detection of 11 new patients, a top health official said.

Of the 11 new cases, six are from Vadodara, four from Bhavnagar, and one from Surat, said Principal Secretary (Health) Jayanti Ravi.

She said no fresh death or recovery was reported on Wednesday.

Gujarat has so far reported 16 deaths due to COVID-19 while 25 people have been discharged from hospitals after recovery, the bureaucrat said, adding that the number of locally transmitted cases has gone up to 121.

Ahmedabad has reported a maximum of 83 COVID-19 cases out of the total 186 cases.

In other districts, 23 cases have been reported so far from Surat, 18 each from Bhavnagar and Vadodara, 13 from Gandhinagar, 11 from Rajkot, 5 from Patan, three from Porbandar, two each from Kutch, Mehsana, and Gir Somnath, and one each from Panchmahal, Chhota Udepur, Jamnagar, Morbi, Anand, and Sabarkantha.

Ahmedabad also tops the chart of the deceased patients at five, followed by Surat four, Vadodara and Bhavnagar two each, and Panchmahal, Patan and Jamnagar one each.

Of the total 186 cases, as many as 121 are locally transmitted while 33 patients have had a history of travelling abroad and 32 of visiting other states, the health department said.

Out of the 145 “active” cases, two are on a ventilator and in critical condition, while the condition of 143 others is stable, it said.

Under its cluster containment plan, the state government has so far identified a total of 44 locations in five cities of Ahmedabad (28), Rajkot (7), Bhavnagar (5), Surat (2) and Vadodara (2), covering 99,121 persons.

Measures like imposing a complete lockdown in these areas along with an intensive screening of suspected cases have been initiated.

According to the government, out of the 672 samples tested in the last 24 hours, results of 133 are awaited.

A total of 4,224 samples have been tested in Gujarat so far, the department said.

In a late night development, Vadodara Collector has declared Tandalja zone as Red Zone and quarantined 6,992 persons.

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After Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an all-party meet today suggested that the lockdown will be extended and restrictions will not be lifted in one go. the state government is mulling to extend the lockdown till April end or May 5.

Meanwhile, arrangement has been made for Thallasemia and other Haemoglobinopathy affected patients to avail treatment in district and Taluka level hospitals with the help of Indian Red Cross Society as per the instructions given by Chief Minister. 730 Thallasemia patients and other Haemoglobinopathy patients have been provided 801 units of blood. 309 children have been provided necessary medicines.

Gujarat companies to export hydroxychloroquine to US: CM

With the coronavirus outbreak creating demand for the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said three companies from the state will export it to the United States.

In an interview to a private radio station on Tuesday, Rupani said his government has kept aside 1 crore hydroxychloroquine tablets to deal with any eventuality.

“Gujarat is shining the world over. US President Trump has been vigorously demanding that drug from India. Now, when the Centre has permitted for its export, Gujarat is all set to send it to the United States,” said Rupani.

“Three Gujarat-based companies have already started production of that drug to be supplied to the US. To be on the safer side, we have kept aside 1 crore tablet for our use,” the CM said.

US President Donald Trump had, on Monday, warned India of retaliation if the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine is not supplied to his country.

In response, the Centre had said India will supply essential drugs to neighbouring countries and those that are badly affected by the pandemic.

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Hydroxychloroquine is an old and inexpensive drug used to treat malaria, the export of which was banned by India last month amid views that it could be used as a potential anti-viral agent to protect from infection healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients.

On speculation of the lockdown getting extended, he said it was tough to say anything at this juncture, adding it was the Centre that would decide on this after seeking an opinion from all states.

He said there was confusion among the masses on this topic, and claimed one of the options being discussed by the people was to lift the lockdown in a phased manner to control the rush of crowds.

He said the impact of lockdown on the economy should not be taken into consideration when people’s lives are at stake.