MP: Two senior health officials test positive to COVID-19

(Eds: Adding details and combining stories on positivecases)

Bhopal, Apr 4 () Madhya Pradesh Principal HealthSecretary and a deputy director, both women, were testedpositive to novel coronavirus on Saturday, taking the COVID-19tally to 179 which included 25 fresh cases being reported inthe last 24 hours, officials said.

Of the 179 cases, 128 are from Indore, the commercialcapital of the state.

The death toll due to coronavirus in the state nowstands at 11.

Interestingly, the principal secretary-level officeron Saturday issued a video bulletin of the state's COVID-19scenario.

Notably, an IAS officer in Health department testedpositive to coronavirus on Thursday.

The deputy director, also a doctor, who testedpositive was actively involved in handling the coronaviruscrisis in the state, a health bulletin stated.

A total of ten areas in Bhopal where these officialsare living are declared as containment zones, officials said.

Meanwhile, four persons who had attended TablighiJamaat congregation in Delhi last month have tested positiveto coronavirus, Bhopal Police said.

On Saturday, a 36-year-old man, a government official,died due to the complications arising from the virus infectionin Chhindwara district, an official said.

He had worked at Indore which has been worst hit bythe coronavirus outbreak.

Father of the deceased also tested positive tocoronavirus on Friday midnight, the official said.

As per the health bulletin, the maximum number of 128COVID-19 cases were reported from Indore, followed by Bhopal(15), Morena (12), Jabalpur (8), Ujjain (7), Khargone (3),Chhindwara (2), Shivpuri and Gwalior 2 each, taking the totalnumber of affected persons in the state to 179.

While 164 of them are stable, one person is in aserious condition.

Meanwhile, two persons, including a journalist and hisdaughter, were discharged on Friday night. MAS ADU LAL NPNSK NSK