As Covid-19 continued to spread in the steel city, the deadly virus claimed the life of a doctor, leaving the medical fraternity in shock.

Dr MM Agrawal, a government doctor and resident of Golmuri died of Covid at the Tata Main Hospital on Friday night, along with eight others, including a 16-year-old boy, who died at the Covid ward in MGM Medical College Hospital.

East Singhbhum district civil surgeon RN Jha while talking to The Telegraph Online said the nine were the highest number of deaths to have taken place on a single day in the district so far.

163 new cases were also detected, taking the total number of coronavirus positive cases in the district to 3,541.

"All those who are dying are coming with complaints of high fever and breathlessness. A majority of them had comorbidity. We are doing our best to save the patients. Moreover, a greater number of people are returning home having recovered from the disease. On Friday, 196 people returned home after recovering," Dr Jha said.

While the number of Covid patients continues to grow significantly in the city, the district health department are making several patients stay at home despite testing coronavirus positive.

One of them, a 45-year-old man and resident Sankosai in Mango said, "I tested positive after I consulted the district health department on Wednesday. Prior to going to the health department, I was running a mild fever for the past four days. But even after I was tested positive, the health department officials asked me to remain in home quarantine and my house has also been sealed. Though two days have passed since then, there is no improvement in my condition. The fever ensues.”

District surveillance officer, Dr AK Lal said they are asymptomatic patients are being asked to stay at home in isolation.

"Besides being asymptomatic, the patient must prove that he or she has sufficient space in one's house where the patient concerned can stay in isolation. Such patients who are allowed to stay at home have to get connected to the Arogya Shetu App so that we may monitor his or her condition and provide the treatment accordingly," said Lal while talking to The Telegraph Online.

Coronavirus has spread to almost all localities in the steel city, including in the posh Circuit House area in Bistupur.

Similarly, those who are dying also come from all sections of people, including traders, doctors and students.

Meanwhile, Dr Mrityunjay Singh, president, Jamshedpur unit of the Indian Medical Association said they lost a very good member.

"Dr Agrawal was not only an amicable person, he was also the former treasurer of the association," said Dr Singh while talking to this website

Another IMA member, Dr Nirmal Kumar said, “Despite the fear of getting infected, Dr Agrawal did not distance himself from attending to the patients who came to him for consultation and ultimately he himself got infected and finally died."