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There was some semblance of let-up in the relentless second wave of coronavirus as the recoveries outnumbered the new infections in Uttar Pradesh. In the last 24 hours, 29,824 new cases were detected while 35,903 patients managed to defeat Covid-19. However, the fatalities continued to be an area of conceren. As against 265 deaths on Tuesday, 266 were recorded on Wednesday.
Expressing satisfaction over the recovery figures, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that amidst the pandemic, these numbers are a matter of happiness. “I request people to follow Covid guidelines as together we can overcome this pandemic soon,” he said while addressing a high-level meeting on Wednesday.
Lucknow also witnessed some respite as the new infections went below the 4,000-mark after over nearly three weeks. As many as 3,759 new cases were detected, 6,214 patients recovered and 13 died in the last 24 hours.
At 21, the highest single-day toll was recorded in Prayagraj, followed by Hardoi (15), Varanasi (14), Kanpur (13), Ghaziabad & Noida (12 each) and 10 in Agra.
Highlighting that Uttar Pradesh has now become the first state in the country to have conducted more than 4 crore Covid tests, the CM said order has been placed for 40 new RT-PCR machines to intensify the testing.  Reiterating that there is no lack of any medical facilities, oxygen or medicines, including Remdesivir and other life-saving drugs, the CM said Remdesivir has been made available to the DMs and CMOs. Yogi said maximum testing should be done through RT-PCR.
Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Amit Mohan Prasad said 1,86,588 samples were tested and more than 93,000 through RT-PCR.
Prasad said that out of a total of 3,00,041 active cases in the state, 2,46,169 are undergoing treatment at home, 7,157 in private hospitals and the rest in government hospitals. Under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, patients have been provided free beds in private hospitals, he added.
Meanwhile, UP also became the first state to have administered the first vaccine dose to nearly one crore people. To ensure the availability of adequate doses in the state, the state government has ordered for procurement of 50 lakh doses each of Covishield and Covaxin from the manufacturing companies.