By ARUN PRATAP SINGH
DEHRADUN, 28 Apr: Three fresh Corona positive cases were reported today in Uttarakhand, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 54. These cases were reported from Rishikesh, Dehradun. With this case, the number of total COVID-19 (Corona) cases in Dehradun district has gone up to 31 now, though more than half of them have already recovered.
In the state, 34 persons have recovered from the deadly virus in the state till today. The fresh cases are from AIIMS Rishikesh, where a Nursing Officer deputed in Urology Department had tested positive before. One more positive case was reported from the Urology Department, today, while one of the positive cases was of a staff nurse deputed in the General Surgery Department. As a result of these fresh cases, at least 50 persons have been quarantined at AIIMS today.
Sources in the government however indicated that due to the fact that fresh cases were still being reported in Dehradun, extension of lockdown beyond 3 May was very likely, though additional relaxations could be granted in non-hotspot areas of the Municipal zone of Dehradun and Haridwar. It may be recalled that in areas outside of Dehradun Municipal Corporation jurisdiction, standalone shops of non-essential commodities have also been allowed to open during the relaxation hours (7 a.m. to 1 p.m.).
The total number of sample reports received today was 302 and with the exception of 3 positive reports, all the remaining 299 reports turned out to be negative. At the same time, a total of 269 samples were sent for Corona testing to the various government laboratories and 264 in private laboratories. As many as 284 sample reports were still awaited in the state. What is a matter of relief is that only 1 percent of those tested for Corona in Uttarakhand have been detected Corona positive. There has been no mortality due to Corona in Uttarakhand so far and the recovery rate is 65.38 percent. Also, unlike many of the states and the national average, it is taking 38.58 days on average for Corona cases to double.
