The COVID-19 tally in Madhya Pradesh crossed the 12,000 mark on Monday, reaching 12,078 cases, according to the state health department. The death toll in the state stood at 521, with 35 new deaths reported in the past four days.
A quick analysis suggests that one-third of all positive cases and deaths in the state were reported during the past three weeks, or the ‘unlock’ period (from June 1).
On May 31—the last day of the 68-day lockdown in the country—the state had 8,089 COVID-19 cases and 350 deaths.
Thus, the number of cases in the past three weeks has gone up by 3,989, which makes for 33 per cent or one-third of all cases. Similarly, 171 deaths were reported in these three weeks—making for 32.8 per cent of all deaths till now.
In the past three weeks, Madhya Pradesh has opened up all activities except for educational institutes and recreational places. Also, a ban on big public gatherings of all nature continues.
As of now, Madhya Pradesh stands at eighth place in the country as far as tally of COVID-19 cases goes. However the death rate, at 4.3 per cent, is the third highest in the country after Gujarat and Maharashtra and way above the national average of 3.1 per cent.
Recovery rate wise, however, Madhya Pradesh is doing far better, at 76.2 per cent, compared with the national average of 55.8 per cent. As of now, there are only 2,342 active cases in the state while 9,215 people have recovered.
Indore records 201 deaths
On Monday, the main COVID-19 hotspot of the state, Indore, crossed the 200 mark in deaths, with a total of 201 deaths. The district has 4,373 total positive cases and therefore the death rate stands at 4.5 per cent, higher than the state average. Bhopal has recorded 2,527 positive cases and 85 deaths.
Identify each positive case: CM to officials
Meanwhile, during a review on Monday, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that district-wise widespread campaign of coronavirus testing will be conducted in the state. Under the campaign, intensive surveys will be conducted in each district to identify each and every coronavirus patient. “The pace of coronavirus infection is declining continuously in the state; now, we have to eradicate it completely,” Chouhan said.
General promotion for collegiate students
In another major decision, the chief minister announced that the students of first and second year of undergraduate courses and second semester of postgraduate courses in government colleges will be given general promotion this year. This fulfils the demands of a wide section of students in the state that was taken up in a campaign mode by the students’ organisation National Students’ Union of India. As for the final year of UG and final semester of PG courses, the students have been offered options of either getting scores on ‘best of all years/semesters’ basis or appearing for off-line exams on a later date.
The chief minister also said that the decision on reopening of schools will be taken at a review to be held on July 31. Till then, all schools in the state will remain closed.