Jharkhand reported twice as many Covid recoveries as fresh cases of infection on Saturday, which brought the active caseload in the state down to 6,239. However, 12 casualties took the Covid toll to 5,046 and the mortality rate remained 1.48 per cent, which was higher than the national average of 1.20 per cent, figures compiled by the health department highlighted.

As per a bulletin released by the National Health Mission (NHM), 517 people were found infected by coronavirus in Jharkhand on the day, while at least 1,098 patients recovered. None of the 24 districts reported a triple-digit spike in cases on the day. With 73 cases, East Singhbhum reported the highest spike among Jharkhand districts on Saturday, the bulletin stated.

The active caseload in Ranchi dropped to 1,664 as the district reported 229 Covid recoveries against 47 cases on Saturday. Two casualties took the Covid toll here to 1,571. The active caseload in East Singhbhum dropped to 707 as the district reported 131 recoveries against 73 cases on the day. East Singhbhum also reported two casualties which took the Covid toll there to 1,019.

The positivity rate on Saturday remained below 1 per cent as only 517 of the 56,126 people tested were found to be Covid positive. The state has been reporting a daily positivity rate of less than 1 per cent since Wednesday.

Among other districts, Dhanbad reported 59 cases against 65 recoveries, while Bokaro reported only 15 cases against 30 recoveries. The active caseload in Pakur dropped to eight on the day as the district reported three recoveries against one fresh case of Covid-19.

The vaccination rate also improved in Jharkhand on Saturday with the addition of new vaccination centres. As many as 86,368 residents were administered the first dose of vaccine against Covid-19 on the day, while at least 6,534 beneficiaries received the second jab. As many as 61,036 of the over 86,000 residents who got their first jab on Saturday were in the age bracket of 18 years to 44 years.

Over 3.40 lakh residents have been infected by coronavirus in Jharkhand so far and 96.68 per cent of them have recovered. The growth rate of infection in Jharkhand was 0.18 per cent against the national average of 0.33 per cent, while the doubling rate of cases in the state was 412.98 days against the national average of 212.64 days.

Bakragaon MLA hospitalised

Ramgarh Congress MLA Mamta Devi visits Bakragaon Congress MLA Amba Prasad at the Ramgarh Sadar Hospital on Saturday. Telegraph Picture

Congress MLA from Barkagaon Assembly constituency Amba Prasad was admitted to Ramgarh Sadar Hospital on Saturday after she felt dizzy and experienced breathlessness while on an inspection of panchayats and villages.

Doctors at the hospital sent her swab samples for Covid testing, the Rapid Antigen Test for which turned negative. Her blood pressure was also monitored at the hospital.

Amar, the personal secretary of the MLA, who was present on the spot said ,"She is out of danger. Soon she will start her work."Ramgarh Congress MLA Mamta Devi met Amba Prasad to check up on her.”