Highest single-day spike in cases, deaths in UP, 33,214 test positive, 187 succumb
Amid the cries of shortage of medicines and oxygen, the second wave of the Covid pandemic continued to wreak havoc in Uttar Pradesh with the highest single-day spike in cases (33,214) and deaths (187) in the last 24 hours.
Lucknow continued to be the hotspot with 5,902 fresh cases and 21 deaths while at least 2,269 people were discharged. Varanasi recorded 2,564 fresh cases and 12 deaths, Praygraj 1,828 cases and six deaths, and Kanpur 1,811 cases.
The pandemic has taken the entire state in its grip and almost all localitities are reporting fresh cases and deaths due to Covid. The scarcity of oxygen and life-saving drugs has made matters worse.
Many private nursing homes have put up notices asking people to take the patients to other facilities as there is scarcity of oxygen. In many hospitals, attendants have been asked to bring oxygen cylinders.
Nitin Sharma bought an oxygen cylinder worth Rs 16,000. “I cannot see my father dying in front of my eyes,” he said as he wheeled in the oxygen cylinder inside a private hospital.
Security guard Mahesh Singh, who helped Nitin, said the situation is very bad. “He is lucky to get a cylinder. I have seen many people gasp for breath and ultimately die in the waiting area of the hospital,” he said.
Rohitesh lost his father because he did not have a referral slip from the CMO which is mandatory for hospitalisation. “What does the government want us to do? Go to the CMO office and get a referral slip or take relatives to the hospital?” he asked.
Meanwhile, Additional Chief Secretary, Medical and Health, Amit Mohan Prasad said there are 2,42,265 active cases in the state. In the last 24 hours, 187 people have died, while the figure on Tuesday was 163.
Prasad said 2, 25,269 samples were examined in the state in the last 24 hours. Along with the coronavirus infection, the vaccination is also going on in the state. So far, the first dose of vaccine has been given to 93,76,419 people while 17,66,9,611 people have been given the second dose, he said.
