The number of Covid cases is fast approaching the 10,000-mark in East Singhbhum with 280 new cases recorded in the last 24 hours, district health officials said on Thursday while the steel city mourned the demise of a well-known social worker who was among six persons who succumbed to the deadly virus.

Social worker and district president of RJD Ambika Banerjee (56) had been ill for the past week. According to family members, he was admitted to Tata Main Hospital's Covid ward after he developed breathing problems on Saturday.

His condition deteriorated and he was shifted to the critical care unit of the hospital where he breathed his last at 7 pm on Wednesday.

A resident of Haludbani in Parsudih, Banerjee was a social worker and residents remembered him as one who was always ready to help others. He was a member of the Central Durga Puja Committee. Advocate Sudhir Kumar said Banerjee’s demise was most shocking. “We lost a man who used to give all kinds of support to anyone in distress," he said.

Social worker Ambika Banerjee, who died of Covid-19 in Jamshedpur on Wednesday. Animesh Sengupta

District civil surgeon Rajendra Jha said as many as 5,492 samples were tested on Wednesday. "Our target is to test 40,000 samples by Friday evening using rapid antigen test kits. Due to unavoidable circumstances, we could only test 5,492 samples,” he said.

The total number cases in East Singhbhum was 9,391.

Jha pointed out that of the targeted 40,000, over 25,000 samples had already been tested. The remaining 15,000 samples would be tested on Thursday and Friday. “The fresh round of rapid antigen tests which began on Monday began at a time when a Central health department team was in the city. Hence, bulk of the tests were conducted in the rural areas only,” he explained.

The Centre's health department team left on Wednesday.

Nitish Kumar Singh who joined as the new SDO of Jamshedpur on Monday, launched a special drive to penalise commuters for not wearing masks. He has moving around markets, slapping penalties on those violating Covid norms. He has also instructed OCs of various police stations to take over the drive.