Covid-19 cases keep rising in Bihar. With 2,720 new infections, Patna worst-hit

Bihar saw 67 fresh casualties, taking the Covid-19 death toll to 2,222. Among the new cases, Patna's share was a maximum of 2,720, while Saran had 568 infections, West Champaran (460), Saharsa (433), and Purnea (384).

A total of 11,801 new Covid-19 cases were reported in Bihar on Monday escalating the virus caseload to 4,15,397, with capital Patna being worst-hit in the state, health department bulletin said.

Relatives carry Covid-19 patients on oxygen support for admission at Nalanda Medical College and Hospital, as coronavirus cases surge in record numbers countrywide, in Patna on Monday. (ANI)

The state saw 67 fresh casualties, taking the Covid-19 death toll to 2222, it said. Among the new cases, Patna's share was maximum 2720, while Saran had 568 infections, West Champaran (460), Saharsa (433), and Purnea (384). Sheikhpura Superintendent of Police Kartikeya K Sharma tested positive and has self-isolated himself.

Concerned over coronavirus surge and experts prediction that cases may further rise in the coming days, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar held a high-level review meeting on the Covid-19 situation during the day and issued an order to further ramp up the testing of samples and ensure timely delivery of reports so that treatment of the infected can start at the earliest. Kumar also instructed officials to take all steps to meet the requirement of medical oxygen for critically ill patients in the government as well as private Covid-19 designated hospitals.

A total of 9,228 patients recovered from the infection since Sunday while 3,23,514 have been cured so far. Bihar has a Covid-19 recovery rate of 77.88%. A total of 80,461 samples were tested in the past 24 hours, while over 2.60 crore clinical examinations for the virus have been conducted in the state so far. On the vaccination front, 1,00,850 were administered jabs Monday while 67,46,734 have been inoculated so far in the state.

The Covid-19 scenario in the wake of the second wave is painful in Bihar. In Patna, search for a bed in government as well as the Covid-designated private hospital is a big problem. Inordinate delay in delivery of RT-PCR some times by a week is also adding to the citizens woes.