Jharkhand records 622 fresh Covid-19 infections, 2 fatalities

Jharkhand reported 622 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, 16 fewer than the previous day, for a total of 4,29,172, according to a health department bulletin.

The death toll rose to 5,303 when two more people - each from Bokaro and Simdega - succumbed to the infection in the past 24 hours, it said.

East Singhbhum district registered the highest number of new infections with 231, followed by the state capital Ranchi with 206 and Palamu with 21.

Jharkhand now has 4,372 active COVID-19 cases, while 1,506 people have recovered from the illness in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number recovering to 4,19,497, it said.

So far, about two crore samples have been tested for COVID-19 in the state, including 52,560 as of Tuesday.

Schools, colleges and universities were allowed to reopen from Tuesday as the COVID situation improved.

The government also allowed gyms and swimming pools to restart, while allowing sporting events in stadiums without spectators.

The board relaxed the limit for meetings, allowing a maximum of 200 people to attend.

"All parks and tourist sites will remain closed. No more than 50 percent of capacity will be present at one time in restaurants, bars, cinemas, shops and malls," an official statement said on Monday.

The state government had reimposed COVID-related restrictions on Jan. 3, including the closure of all educational institutions and tourist sites, in the wake of a spate of coronavirus infections at the time.