Gujarat: 119 Covid cases in state, highest since Sept last year

Surat also recorded 13 cases — 10 in its municipal corporation jurisdiction and 3 in the district jurisdiction.

In Rajkot, 10 persons tested positive in its municipal corporation jurisdiction and three in the district jurisdiction. Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation and district reported one each and Vadodara municipal corporation reported four cases.

Among the smaller districts to report cases are Mehsana (9), Amreli (4), Sabarkantha (2), Bharuch (2), Anand (2) Navsari (1), Porbandar (1).

Around 10,300-odd tests were conducted across the state on Thursday, pegging the test positivity rate for the day a little above one percent.

With Surat reporting 13 new Covid-19 cases, the Surat Municipal Corporation has set up a Covid-19 war room named Central Emergency Control room to deal with the latest surge.

The conditions of the 13 patients are reported to be stable.

On Thursday, Surat Municipal Commissioner Shalini Agrawal held a meeting with the health department officials of the SMC including Deputy Health Commissioner Dr. Ashish Naik to discuss ways to deal with the rise in Covid-19 cases and seasonal flu cases in the city.

The meeting was held at the central emergency control room centre which was set up at Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) at Udhna Magdalla road in Surat.

Deputy Health Commissioner Dr Ashish Naik said, “The new centre is like our old war room, from where coordination will be done for different zones. In the meeting it was also decided that semi-war zones will be opened in all eight municipal zones in Surat city. Our teams will also coordinate with the private and government laboratories.” Surat is carrying out over 500 Covid tests daily— both of RT-PCR and rapid antigen tests on 70:30 basis.

Naik added, “Presently Covid tests are done on those who are suffering from flu and other viral infections. We also appeal to the citizens to follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Covid-19 and to avoid public gatherings as a precautionary measure.”