With 75 new cases, Gurugram reports highest daily jump in two months

At least 75 new Covid-19 cases were reported in the last 24 hours on Tuesday — the highest jump in daily cases after almost two months

At least 75 new Covid-19 cases were reported in the last 24 hours on Tuesday — the highest jump in daily cases after almost two months. Data also showed that average new infections this week increased by almost 50% as compared to the number of cases recorded in the last week of February, forcing health department to increase testing.

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“Testing will be increased in the district to gauge the rising prevalence of infection. Testing camps are already being conducted in areas where more than five cases are being reported in a day. Teams will also conduct random testing to identify localities from where cases are being reported at a faster pace,” said Dr Virender Yadav, chief medical officer(CMO). According to the data, the district is presently testing almost 2,900 samples every day.

As there has been an increase in the daily test positivity rate – positive samples out of the samples tested in a day – from less than 1% in February to almost 1.9% in the last one week, the health department has also planned to increase the number of containment zones in the city.

The district until December 2020 recorded more than 100 new infections a day. It declined to almost 88 new infections on January 8. But the active cases stood at 772. Due to daily decline in new cases to roughly 30 every day, the active case count had declined to 372 by February 1.

Going by the daily health bulletin issued by the district health department, the active cases count reduced to almost 239 by February 23, after which it gradually started increasing, with daily case count fluctuating between 29 and 62.

On an average, 26 new cases were reported daily between February 17 and February 23. It jumped to almost 44 new cases between February 24 and March 2, after which it further grew to almost 53 new cases on an average in the last one week. While daily cases have now touched 75, active cases have reached 437. The overall tally has reached 59,449.

Due to the constant upward trajectory, Haryana is currently among the eight states in the country noticing a spike in daily cases. “The matter will be discussed in the district task force meeting on Wednesday. Gurugram testing numbers are higher compared to other districts; therefore new infections are being reported. In case if the number further increases reserved beds for Covid-19 patients will also be increased,” said Yadav.

Currently, out of the 437 active cases at least 37 are admitted in hospitals, while 399 are under home isolation. Only one patient has been isolated at a Covid care centre.