NE NEWS SERVICE
AHMEDABAD, NOV 26
Gujarat recorded 1,560 new cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours, the highest spike in 24 hours so far, the state health department said on Thursday evening.
It took the case count in the state to 2,03,509.
We can protect each other by staying healthy and safe. Follow Covid appropriate behavior and
Stay Physically active
Avoid junk, Smoking & Tobacco
Eat a balanced diet
Together, we can definitely break the chain of transmission#LifePositiveCoronaNegative@PMOIndia@CMOGuj pic.twitter.com/xF1fJqnJ2N— Amdavad Municipal Corporation (@AmdavadAMC) November 26, 2020
With 16 patients succumbing to the infection during the day, the death toll due to the pandemic reached 3,922, it said.
As many as 1,302 patients recovered since Wednesday evening.
Of the 16 patients who died during the day, 12 died in Ahmedabad city alone, followed by three in Surat and one in Vadodara.
As many as 361 persons were found coronavirus positive in Ahmedabad district during the day, followed by 289 in Surat, 180 in Vadodara, 138 in Rajkot, 70 in Gandhinagar, 64 in Patan and 41 in Banaskantha district.
Gujarat’s recovery rate now stands at 90.93 per cent.
Over 70,800 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours across the state, taking the total to over 75 lakh.
Only one new case of coronavirus emerged during the day in the adjoining Union Territory of Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.
Of the total 3,300 coronavirus cases recorded in the territory till now, two have died, 3,265 have recovered and 33 cases are still active, said a release by the UT administration.
Gujarat COVID-19 figures are positive cases 2,03,509, new cases 1,560, death toll 3,922, discharged 1,85,058, active cases 14,529, and people tested so far 75,51,609.
TEST IS BEST pic.twitter.com/Si3RVBsgUR
— Mukesh Kumar (@Mukeshias) November 26, 2020
361 new coronavirus cases in Ahmedabad district, 12 deaths
As many as 361 new cases of coronavirus, the highest in Gujarat, were recorded in Ahmedabad district in the last 24 hours, a release by the state Health Department said on Thursday evening.
Of these, 337 cases were reported in the city while 24 were from surrounding villages, it said. The district”s count of coronavirus cases thus reached 48,710.
Twelve COVID-19 patients died in the city during the day, taking the death toll in the district to 2,015.
The release added that 357 patients – 334 in the city alone – recovered and were given discharge during the day, taking the recovery tally to 43,401.
289 new coronavirus cases in Surat, three deaths
Surat district recorded 289 fresh cases of coronavirus infection in the last 24 hours, said a release by the state Health Department on Thursday evening.
It took the district’s case count to 41,339.
231 new cases were found in Surat city alone.
Three patients from the city died due to the infection, taking the death toll in the district to 1,059.
On the other hand, 195 patients recovered – 178 from the city and 17 from rural parts of the district – on Thursday.
No plan of day-time curfew, lockdown: CM
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Thursday said there are no plans to impose any day- time curfew or lockdown in Gujarat or some of its cities as claimed by some social media users.
At present, night curfew between 9 pm and 6 am is going on in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Rajkot.
“Rumours are being circulated on social media. At present, there are no plans to impose any day-time curfew or lockdown. We will take a decision regarding it at an appropriate time,” Rupani told reporters in the state capital.
“At present, the coronavirus situation is under control in Gujarat,” he said.
Covaxin’s phase-3 trials commences in Ahmedabad hospital
The phase-3 clinical trials of Bharat Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine began at Sola civil hospital in Ahmedabad city on Thursday, officials of the state-run hospital said.
On the first day, five healthy volunteers, including a woman, were given the first dose of the vaccine at the hospital. Its second dose will be given after 28 days, said Principal Investigator, Sola Civil, Dr Parul Bhatt.
“In the first phase, we have planned to cover 1,000 healthy volunteers. They must be in the age group of 18 to 60 and with no history of coronavirus infection. Anyone who fulfils the criteria can approach us and enrol as a volunteer,” she added.
Covaxin is being developed by the Hyderabad-based firm Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
She said that doctors at the hospital engaged in the clinical trial exercise will remain in touch with the volunteers over the phone to monitor their health condition after the vaccine is administered.
Volunteers will be called at the hospital at regular intervals for follow-up procedures and tests, including blood test and oxygen level, Bhatt said.
“This whole exercise will continue for 12 months. We will also give a contact number to the volunteers in case they need any urgent intervention. The hospital will provide necessary treatment in case of any complication,” she added.