While the threat of COVID-19 has not subsided yet, the fresh state-wide toll in Uttar Pradesh has surely ushered a hope of respite, with just 36 new cases being reported here in the past 24 hours. 52 out of the 75 districts in the state, did not report any surge in cases within this duration. As per official records, the present active load in UP stands at 664 cases.

10 districts in UP declared COVID free!

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With zero cases, 10 districts in UP have been listed as COVID-free districts. As per reports, Aligarh, Amroha, Etah, Farrukhabad, Hathras, Kasganj, Kaushambhi, Mahoba, Pratapgarh and Shravasti in Uttar Pradesh have been declared COVID-free.

Besides, 23 other districts have limited the case surge to single-digit tallies, strengthening the overall recovery trends. The state has also successfully managed to recede its daily positivity rate to 0.01%, which is the lowest in the country. In case of numbers, the tallies have been restricted to less than a hundred in the past 20 days now, reportedly.

Uttar Pradesh's testing potential has also made a resounding mark across the nations. The populous state harbours a density of 690 people per square kilometre and is the only state in India to have tested more than 3 lakh samples in a day.

The public has been urged to maintain strict compliance with safety protocols, in order to maintain the downward trajectory of the pandemic threat. The Chief Minister has also encouraged the masses to take advantage of the mega vaccine drive, to build a stronger defence against the virus threat.

Preparations ahead of the anticipated rise of 'third wave'

Meanwhile, preparations ahead of the expectant 'third wave' rise are in full swing in Uttar Pradesh. The administration has made arrangements to ramp up the medical infrastructure to accommodate more oxygen plants and ventilator beds. Facilities for children are also being put in place, where around 156 pediatric beds have been installed in Lucknow. Of these, around 56 are equipped with ventilators.

"The remaining beds have oxygen support through pipelines and the pediatric COVID ward is ready for use," a government statement informed. "Ventilator unit with 40 beds for children is also ready at Lucknow's Balrampur Hospital and an oxygen generation plant is now functional to fulfill the oxygen requirement of 100 beds," it added.