Ahmedabd COVID-19 cases up by 280 to 5540; death toll 363

(Eds: Updating with details)

Ahmedabad, May 9 () A total of 280 new COVID-19cases were reported from hotspot Ahmedabad besides 20 moredeaths on Saturday, taking the total case count to 5,540 inthe district and fatalities to 363, a Health departmentofficial said.

Principal Secretary (Health) Jayanti Ravi said thatthe number of the discharged patients from various hospitalsin Ahmedabad after recovery mounted by 106 to 1,107 in thelast 24 hours.

A team of expert doctors from Delhi, led by AIIMSdirector Dr Randeep Guleria, visited various hospitals in thecity on Saturday and guided local medical teams on how tobring down the high COVID-19 death rate, Ravi said.

"They found that the protocols being followed at thecivil hospital and other hospitals in Ahmedabad were up to themark," she said, adding that the team was satisfiedwith thestate Health department's work.

As a measure to bring down the death rate, the doctorshave appealed to symptomatic patients, and especially thosewith underlying health conditions, to avail medical treatmentwithout delay, Ravi said.

Ahmedabad's COVID-19 mortality rate stands at 6.5 percent, which is almost double than the national average of 3.3per cent.

Dr Guleria, accompanied by Dr Manish Soneja of AIIMS'department of medicine, visited the civil hospital and metdoctors and staff, who were attending to COVID-19 patients andoffered them guidance, a Health department release said. PDNSK NSK