The number of coronavirus cases in Gujarat have reached 2,815 with 191 new cases and 15 deaths on Friday. With this figure, Gujarat has overtaken New Delhi and is now the second worst-affected after Maharashtra.
Out of 191 positive cases reported in the past 24 hours, as as 169 cases were reported in Ahmedabad alone, followed by Surat(6), Vadodara (5), 3 each in Anand and Panchmahal, 2 in Bhavnagar and one each in Gandhinagar, Botadand Valsad district, Principal Secretary, Health, Jayanti Ravi told reporters.
The number of COVID-19 patients in Ahmedabad city of Gujarat may grow to eight lakh by the end of May if the current four-day period of doubling of such cases continues, news agency PTI reported.
So far, Ahmedabad city has reported 1,638 coronavirus positive cases, the highest in Gujarat.
Of these, 1,459 cases are active after the death of 75 patients and recovery of 105 others, Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Vijay Nehra said in a video message.
"At present, the rate of doubling of cases in Ahmedabad is four days, which means that cases double every four days. If this rate continues, we will have 50,000 cases by May 15 and around 8 lakh by May 31," Nehra said.
"Our target is to bring down this rate to eight days. This will be a very difficult task because very few countries have achieved it," he said.
He mentioned that the US and Europe currently have four days of doubling rate and only South Korea has achieved the eight-day rate.
"If we can slow down the doubling rate to eight days, our cases will be only 10,000 by May 15 instead of 50,000. Similarly, the cases will be just 50,000 by May 31 instead of the estimated eight lakh. The way Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation is taking steps, we are confident of achieving this with the help of people's cooperation," said Nehra.
He stressed that the doubling rate must be brought down before the coronavirus lockdown comes to an end on May 3.