While major districts such as Lucknow, Varanasi, Prayagraj and Kanpur continue to be the worst affected by the pandemic, recorded deaths due to COVID-19 doubled or tripled in 15 districts of Uttar Pradesh, including many smaller and relatively rural centres, over the past three weeks.
In another three dozen-odd districts, the death toll also increased substantially over the same period. U.P. has 75 districts.
From April 15 to May 5, the death count doubled or tripled in Hathras, Kasganj, Mahoba, Chitrakoot, Bhadohi, Hamirpur, Baghpat, Amethi, Auraiya, Jalaun, Banda, Ghaziabad, Sonbhadra, Chandauli and Gautam Buddha Nagar, as per the official data of the State health department.
The death toll in Kasganj increased fivefold from 6 to 30; Mahoba 13 to 34; Chitrakoot 17 to 50; Bhadohi 31 to 63; Hamirpur 21 to 61; Auraiya 50 to 106; Jalaun 53 to 136; Banda 48 to 118; Baghpat 36 to 76; Amethi 44 to 88; Chandauli 76 to 204; Sonbhadra 82 to 161. While the death toll almost tripled in Ghaziabad from 104 to 288, a similar trajectory was seen in neighbouring Gautam Buddha Nagar, where the recorded deaths rose from 98 to 271.
Mahoba, Banda, Hamirpur, Chitrakoot and Jalaun are all in the drought-prone region of Bundelkhand, while Auraiya, Sonbhadra, Chandauli are among the backward and rural-dominated districts in the State.
Rural polls link
In more than three dozen other districts, including many small and backward centres, the deaths due to COVID-19 have seen a steady and substantial rise. In the last two weeks, opponents of the ruling BJP as well its own MLAs and teachers’ unions have said that COVID-19 was rapidly spreading in rural U.P., with many blaming the recently concluded panchayat polls for the increase in cases and deaths. In Kannauj, the deaths rose from 55 to 86; Basti 100 to 82; Hapur 68 to 105 and Etawah 111 to 208.
The State government on May 5 launched a testing drive for COVID-19 in all 97,000 revenue villages. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath instructed officials to carry out door-to-door screening and checking of temperature and oxygen levels of people and tests of people with symptoms.
U.P. on May 6 recorded 26,789 fresh positive cases out of 2.25 lakh samples tested, as against 31,165 positive cases out of 2.32 lakh samples on May 5. However, the number of daily deaths only dropped marginally over the 24 hours, from 357 to 353. On May 6, Lucknow recorded 65 deaths while 49 died in Kanpur, which has officially recorded 161 deaths in three days.
Monitoring panels
CM Adityanath said in the screening by monitoring committees in the villages 69,474 persons were found to be symptomatic and when tested, 3,551 were found positive. They were provided medical kits for home isolation, the government said.
“Doctors should be in constant contact with these patients through tele-consultation. Advanced medical facility should also be provided to them as per the requirement,” Mr. Adityanath instructed officials.
