COVID-19 cases in Guj jump to 538, death toll rises to 26

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Ahmedabad, Apr 13 () The total number of COVID-19cases in Gujarat rose to 538 on Monday after 22 more peopletested positive for the disease, an official said on Monday.

Besides, the number of death rose to 26 after two morepatients succumbed to coronavirus in the state.

Out of the 22 new cases, 13 were reported fromAhmedabad, five from Surat, two from Banaskantha, and one eachfrom Anand and Vadodara, principal secretary (health) JayantiRavi said.

Till now, there have been 295 COVID-19 cases inAhmedabad, the highest in the state, while Vadodara hasreported 102 cases.

Out of the two deaths, one was reported from Ahmedabadwhere a 75-year-old COVID-19 patient succumbed at SVPHospital. The patient also suffered from heart and lungailments, Ravi said.

With this, Ahmedabad has reported 13 deaths so far.

Besides, a 27-year-old COVID-19 patient, who was alsosuffering from dengue, died in Vadodara, taking the totalnumber of deaths there to three.

"The patient was initially suffering from dengue, butdue to weakimmunity, he also contracted coronavirus and diedat Gotri hospital in Vadodara," Ravi said.

So far, 47 people have been discharged in the stateafter recovery.

Ravi said as many as 2,263 samples were tested in last24 hours.

Till now, 13,257 samples have been tested in Gujarat,out of which 538 came out positive, while the reports of 273are pending.

"All medical colleges in Gujarat have applied to thecentral government to seek permission for coronavirus testing.Private laboratories can also apply. This is being done toincrease the rate of testing," Ravi said.

She said random sampling in 14 districts (from whereno coronavirus patient was found) revealed only two cases inBanaskantha district.

District-wise, Ahmedabad has so far reported 295cases, Vadodara-102, Surat-33, Bhavnagar-23, Rajkot andBharuch-18 each Gandhinagar-15, Patan-14, Anand- nine, Kutch-four, Porbandar and Chhota Udepur- three each, Mehsana,Banaskantha and Gir Somnath- two each, and Panchmahal,Jamnagar, Morbi, Sabarkantha and Dahod- one each.

Out of 465 active cases, 461 patients are stable whilefour are on ventilator support, Ravi said. KA PDGK GK