Count of coronavirus cases in MP reaches 1,299

Bhopal, Apr 16 () With 361 persons testing positiveon Thursday, the number of coronavirus cases in Madhya Pradeshclimbed to 1,299, health officials said.

Eight more deaths were reported in past 24 hours,taking the death toll of COVID-19 patients to 63 in MP,according to state health officials.

According to reports so far, the virus has nowexpanded its footprint to 26 out of 52 districts of the state.

Indore has reported the highest 842 cases in thestate with 298 new cases being reported since Wednesday,health officials said.

In Bhopal, 29 more cases were reported, which tookthe tally of COVID-19 patients in the state capital to 196,officials said.

With 17 more persons testing positive for COVID-19on Thursday, the number of cases in Khandwa has gone up to 33,fourth highest in state after Indore, Bhopal and Khargone,said health officials.

Of 63 deaths in the state on account of COVID-19, 47were reported in Indore alone.

Five persons have died in Bhopal, six in Ujjain,three in Khargone and one each in Chhindwara and Dewas.

Indore's Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO)Praveen Jadia said eight more persons including two brothersdied in Indore.

Of these eight people, five died on Thursday whilereports of three other persons came after their death lastweek.

Apart from Indore and Bhopal, Morena district hasrecorded 14 cases, Jabalpur 13 (one new), Ujjain 30,Hoshangabad 16, Khargone 39, Barwani 22, Raisen 08 (four new),Gwalior six, Khandwa 33 (17 new), Dewas 17 (two new), Sheopur03, Vidisha 13, Chhindwara 04, Satna two, Dhar 6 (three new),Shivpuri two, Ratlam 12, Shajapur 5 (one new), Mandsaur 07(five new), Agar Malwa 4 (one new) and Betul, Tikamgarh,Alirajput and Sagar one each, health officials said.

One patient hails from another state.

So far 65 patients have recovered and returned home,the officials said.

The health officials also said that 405 containmentareas have been declared across the affected cities in thestate.