Gujarat has surged to the second spot nationally in active Covid cases, a grim milestone that underscores the virus’s steady hold on the state. As of Friday, Gujarat trailed only Kerala, which had 1,679 active cases. As of now, Gujarat with 717 active cases is ahead of West Bengal (596), Delhi (592), and Maharashtra (548), claims the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
Latest data claims that Gujarat reported 170 new Covid cases, a stark reminder that the pandemic threat is far from over. Ahmedabad city alone reported 88 of these cases. In contrast, only 68 patients were declared free of infection statewide—barely enough to offset the new infections. Of those recovered, 34 were from Ahmedabad.
At the time of this article going live, the total number of active Covid-19 cases reached 5,364, MoHFW said.
According to reports, four patients died in 24 hours – they suffered from multiple comorbidities, such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiac issues, liver disease, urinary tract infection, and pulmonary thromboembolism.
Ahmedabad reportedly alone carries more than half of Gujarat’s burden. Out of the 717 active cases in the state, a staggering 374 are from Ahmedabad. The West Zone is the worst hit, with 128 cases, followed by 105 in the North West Zone and 66 in the South West Zone. Western city areas alone account for a concerning 80% of the city’s total active cases.
The virus continues to infect at a consistent rate, while recovery struggles to keep pace.
Despite the rise in infections, the state reported no new deaths on Friday. However, the state health department bulletin warned that 23 of the 717 patients are currently hospitalised. The remaining 694 are under home isolation—an alarming figure considering the risk of transmission in uncontrolled environments.
Authorities are urging heightened caution as infections persist. The health department asked patients to self-monitor health indicators and approach a medical facility if they experience respiratory issues, chest pain, or other symptoms.
Citizens have also been advised to “maintain hand hygiene, avoid spitting in public places, and ensure that those with immuno-compromised conditions wear masks and avoid crowded places.”
Meanwhile, physicians are reporting a steady number of cases with flu-like symptoms, pointing to the virus’s evolving presentation. Common symptoms include body ache and headache, diarrhoea, high-grade fever, and sore throat, among others.
Amid this resurgence in infections, the Centre has launched rigorous preparedness assessments, compelling state governments to issue fresh advisories in a renewed push against the virus.
A series of high-level technical review meetings were convened on June 2 and 3, led by Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr Sunita Sharma. These sessions brought together top officials from ICMR, NCDC, IDSP, and disaster management units, signalling an urgent, coordinated evaluation of the nation’s readiness to confront the rising tide of infections.
