7 among 18 fresh cases from Gurgaon; total count rises to 928

Seven among 18 fresh COVID-19 cases reported in Haryana on Monday were from Gurgaon, taking the total in the state to 928.

In addition to Gurgaon, the two other worst-hit districts in the National Capital Region Faridabad and Sonipat reported three cases each.

Karnal and Mahendragarh reported a case each. Three cases were reported in Hisar, according to state health department's daily bulletin.

During the past few days, Gurgaon has continued to report fresh cases.

With more cases, Gurgaon now has cumulative COVID-19 cases at 211, with 97 of them being active.

Total COVID-19 active cases are 316 while the number patients who have been discharged was 598, as per the bulletin.

The state has tested 80,698 people, out of which samples of 75,045 have been found negative while reports of 4,725 were awaited, as per the bulletin.

Haryana has so far reported 14 COVID-19 related deaths.

Meanwhile, state health minister Anil Vij said as of May 18, tests per million being conducted in Haryana is 3,183 while the state's recovery rate is 64.44 per cent.

"So far, good thing is that not even one COVID-19 patient in Haryana has needed a ventilator support," he said.

He also said Maruti Suzuki India has donated 50 ventilators to the Haryana government.

"We have already installed these in many hospitals," he said.

On the issue of coronavirus tests being conducted by Rapid Testing Kits, a statement quoted Vij as saying that these were not delivering satisfactory results.

After Chinese kits were rejected by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Vij said they had later procured kits from a company from another country, but these too were not delivering the desired results.

"Either there is some malfunctioning of the kits or there may be a difference in the way we conduct the tests. However, we are trying to talk to the company to find out what could be the reason," he said.

Meanwhile, in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and attended by district representatives of Indian Medical Association (IMA) and civil surgeons through video conferencing here on Monday, it was decided that Haryana's private health clinics, nursing homes, and dental clinics would also be included in the special economic package announced by the Centre for micro, small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs).

Apart from this, if a private doctor is infected with COVID-19, then his treatment would also be carried out at the government's expense, an official statement aid.

'We have had to face many challenges while dealing with the pandemic, but with the support of all sections of society, we shall soon overcome this crisis," said Khattar.