Guj: Doubling of COVID-19 cases slowed in 6 days ending Apr 23

Ahmedabad, Apr 25 () The number of coronaviruspositive patients in Gujarat doubled from 617 after April 14to 1,272 on April 17, but this rate slowed down in thesubsequent six days up to April 23 during which 1352 morecases were detected, as per the analysis by Health department.

The total number of coronavirus positive cases inGujarat stood at 2,815 by April 24 evening.

"The number of COVID-19 patients nearly-doubled from617 cases after April 13 to 1,272 cases on April 17, which wasa sharp rise," Principal Secretary (Health) Jayanti Ravi saidon Saturday.

However, the doubling rate of cases slowed down to sixdays after April 17 up to April 23, when the number of casesrose from 1,272 to 2,624, as per the data.

The state recorded the highest number of COVID-19cases in the 24 hours ended on April 18 when 332 persons hadtested positive for coronavirus, it said.

In Gujarat, 30 of the 33 districts have reportedcoronavirus positive cases.

Ravi said, "Social distancing measures such aslockdown, containment and curfew have delayed or controlledthe possible exponential curve".

She said 80 per cent of the total COVID-19 patientsare silent carriers of the virus and asymptomic, while 15 percent are symptomatic.

"The fight is most importantly for the remaining 5 percent of the patients who are suffering from serious ailmentslike diabetes, hypertension, cancer, TB, asthma, HIV, heartand lung diseases, mental diseases, among others," Ravi added.

In terms of testing, the state government conducted3028 tests in the last 24 hours ending on Saturday, Ravi said.

She said 3,280 rapid anti-body tests were conducted invarious districts.

"In terms of the test per million, the AhmedabadMunicipal Corporation has achieved 2,701 tests per million,which is the highest in the country, compared to 1,491.97 inthe Union Territory of Delhi, 930.7 in Tamil Nadu, and 836.34in Rajasthan. The country's average test per million rate is392.5," Ravi said.

Gujarat has reported the average test per million rateof 721, she added.

Ravi said Gujarat is among the states which has thelargest number of laboratories for testing coronavirus cases.

According to Ravi, 45,621 persons placed underquarantine in the state have taken AYUSH medicines while27,895 consumed Ayurvedic medicines. A total of 17,725 personsunder quarantine consmumed Homeopathic medicines.

"Only 15 COVID-19 cases have been reported fromquarantine facilities," Ravi added.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had on Fridayassessed as "especially serious" the situation in emerginghotspots of Ahmedabad and Surat. KA PDNSK NSK