Polls round the corner, Uttar Pradesh logs 1300% spike in Covid cases in a week

Poll bound Uttar Pradesh has seen Covid cases spiral 13 times in the last week.

The state reported 7,695 fresh cases on Sunday which is 13 times what was recorded last week. Last Sunday, the state had recorded 552 fresh cases.

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The worst hit parts are state capital Lucknow, which logged 1,115 cases, Noida with 1,149 and Ghaziabad with 922 new Covid cases in a day.

The government attributed the spike to the rising number of tests, saying 2.22 lakh samples have been tested in the last 24 hours.

The state government has announced the closure of all educational institutions till January 16, asking for online classes where possible.

A night curfew imposed in the state between 10 pm to 6 am will also continue. Gyms have been shut in districts with 1000-plus active cases.

Uttar Pradesh will go to the polls in a seven-phase election in exactly a month from February 10. The rise in Covid cases has raised concerns of a likely explosion in infections as campaigning heats up. For now, the election commission has banned big rallies and roadshows till January 15.