After oscillating over the 5k-mark for a period of 13 days, COVID cases in Lucknow lowered to a count of 4,566 on Monday. This figure was registered after the state capital went through a complete lockdown for two days on the weekend. Currently, the city has 50,627 active cases of the COVID virus and 21 fatalities were recorded in the past 24 hours. Besides this, Uttar Pradesh registered 33,574 fresh COVID cases on Monday.
Will the weekend lockdown lower the infection graph?
Lucknow witnessed 5,687, 5,509 and 5,186 new COVID cases on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Over the same period, a 59-hour lockdown was marked in the city, starting from 8 PM on Friday to 7 AM on Monday. During this long interval, all establishments other than those providing necessary and essential services were shut and empty roads were seen at all central locations in Lucknow once again. In addition to the weekend lockdown, the city is also under the order of a daily night curfew, till April 30.
After reaching an all-time high of 6,598 cases on April 14, the daily count of new detections hovered way over the 5K-mark before it marked a downfall on Monday. Though a majority of the city dwellers are strictly following the restrictions, it will only be deciphered in the upcoming days, if the imposed restraints were beneficial towards curtailing the spread of contamination in the city. Besides adhering to the measures initiated by the administration, the citizens need to act responsibly in the upcoming days, if this accelerated spread of the virus has to be controlled.
Large scale sanitisation drives in the city on the weekend
Lucknow Municipal Corporation conducted large-scale extensive sanitisation drives in the city on Saturday and Sunday. Executed with an aim to block the chain of infections, the disinfecting operation deployed a large number of municipal officials and sanitisation vehicles. Given the long list of initiatives being undertaken by the city and state administration, it can be expected that the infection rate in the city would diminish soon.
Government ramps up measures to meet oxygen requirements in the city
[twitter_embed https://www.twitter.com/CMOfficeUP/status/1386215087405289474 expand=1]
In order to meet the burgeoning requirements of oxygen in Lucknow, the state government has also undertaken the Oxygen Express initiative to bridge the gap between demand and supplies. Besides this, oxygen supplies are also being airlifted to ensure that nobody suffers, on account of the shortage.
As detailed in a tweet by the CMO Office, the Chief Minister also mentioned the urgent need for additional tankers and the steps required by the Transport Department in regards to this. Further, the state government is also seeking help from the central administration.
Knock Knock
Lucknow has been enveloped under a severe COVID crisis for over two weeks now. With an escalating count of critical patients, lagging oxygen supplies and overburdened medical infrastructure, the city struggles to find its way out of this perturbing situation. Through these tough times, the efforts and contributions being made by you Lucknowites are commendable in all respects. While we hope that the pandemic eases out soon, stay home, stay safe and help anyone that you can!
