<p>Uttar Pradesh on Saturday reported 19 novel coronavirus fatalities and 605 infections, as the state's virus count reached 21,584 while the death toll rose to 649, a senior official said.</p>.<p>Additional Chief Secretary, Medical and Health, Amit Mohan Prasad said 14,215 people have so far been discharged from hospitals after recovering from the infection, leaving 6,684 active Covid-19 cases in the state.</p>.<p>The recovery percentage of the state is 65.96 per cent, Prasad said .</p>.<p>Referring to the sample testing, Prasad said the state touched a new benchmark on Friday by testing 20,028 samples in a day.</p>.<p>In view of the continued cases being reported from the Meerut division, Prasad said almost 47 per cent of the total cases reported on Friday were from that region and a separate work plan is being prepared to break the chain of infection in that region.</p>.<p>"A campaign on the lines of pulse polio campaign will be launched in the state between July 5 and 10 for breaking the chain of infection. In Meerut division, this campaign will start earlier in the first week of July," Prasad said.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/coronavirus-live-news-covid-19-latest-updates.html" target="_blank">CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH</a></strong></p>.<p>Under this, door-to-door surveillance and screening of infection would be undertaken in the rural and urban areas, Prasad said.</p>.<p>He said the rapid antigen testing has also been started in the state and on Friday it was carried out in 10 districts -- six of them in Meerut division, Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj and Varanasi. The official said the testing began in Kanpur on Saturday.</p>.<p>He said a unique initiative is being taken in the state for crowdsourcing of ideas by encouraging people to make one-minute video on the coronavirus, precautions and what more needed to be done to check the spread of the disease and 100 best videos will be given a prize of Rs 10,000 each.</p>.<p>Besides, 10 best ideas in 150 words will also be given a prize of Rs 10,000 each, he said, adding this will help get fresh ideas and involve people in breaking the chain of infection.</p>
<p>Uttar Pradesh on Saturday reported 19 novel coronavirus fatalities and 605 infections, as the state's virus count reached 21,584 while the death toll rose to 649, a senior official said.</p>.<p>Additional Chief Secretary, Medical and Health, Amit Mohan Prasad said 14,215 people have so far been discharged from hospitals after recovering from the infection, leaving 6,684 active Covid-19 cases in the state.</p>.<p>The recovery percentage of the state is 65.96 per cent, Prasad said .</p>.<p>Referring to the sample testing, Prasad said the state touched a new benchmark on Friday by testing 20,028 samples in a day.</p>.<p>In view of the continued cases being reported from the Meerut division, Prasad said almost 47 per cent of the total cases reported on Friday were from that region and a separate work plan is being prepared to break the chain of infection in that region.</p>.<p>"A campaign on the lines of pulse polio campaign will be launched in the state between July 5 and 10 for breaking the chain of infection. In Meerut division, this campaign will start earlier in the first week of July," Prasad said.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/coronavirus-live-news-covid-19-latest-updates.html" target="_blank">CORONAVIRUS SPECIAL COVERAGE ONLY ON DH</a></strong></p>.<p>Under this, door-to-door surveillance and screening of infection would be undertaken in the rural and urban areas, Prasad said.</p>.<p>He said the rapid antigen testing has also been started in the state and on Friday it was carried out in 10 districts -- six of them in Meerut division, Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj and Varanasi. The official said the testing began in Kanpur on Saturday.</p>.<p>He said a unique initiative is being taken in the state for crowdsourcing of ideas by encouraging people to make one-minute video on the coronavirus, precautions and what more needed to be done to check the spread of the disease and 100 best videos will be given a prize of Rs 10,000 each.</p>.<p>Besides, 10 best ideas in 150 words will also be given a prize of Rs 10,000 each, he said, adding this will help get fresh ideas and involve people in breaking the chain of infection.</p>