国际英语新闻:Concern rising amid spike in COVID-19 cases in Indian state of Chhattisgarh

NEW DELHI, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Amid a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, the situation there has been worrying.

In the past seven days, at least 38 people have lost their lives in the district of Durg, about 39 km west of Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh.

Categorized as one of the worst-affected districts in the state, Durg has witnessed a massive spike in COVID-19 cases in the ongoing wave of the infection. Health officials said owing to a higher number of COVID-19 new cases, the district seems to emerge as the epicenter of the second wave.

Doctors at the hospital are overwhelmed as 6,000 people have been infected in the last seven days. The local administration has announced a complete nine-day lockdown in the district starting from April 6 until April 14.

Doctors at the 500-bed government hospital in Durg said the situation was worrying as the hospital is devoid of enough space to accommodate the bodies.

"Almost 10 cases of COVID-19 are received at the hospital on daily basis and every day four to five people are dying because of it," said Dr P R Balkishor, chief medical superintendent of Durg hospital.

Reports said the increasing deaths have triggered a rush at the graveyard and crematorium in the district meant for COVID-19 bodies.

Sarveshwar Narendra Bhure, collector of Durg told the media that the administration was handling the situation and performing the last rites of the bodies in adherence to COVID-19 protocol.

On Friday the Indian government said the COVID-19 pandemic situation in 11 states, including Maharashtra, Punjab and Chhattisgarh, among others, was a matter of serious concern.

During a review meeting with the top officials of these states, a senior Indian government official pointed out that tier 2 and tier 3 cities along with peri-urban areas have recorded the recent high rises in COVID-19 cases.

Describing the situation as worrisome, experts said during the meeting that the spread of infection from these areas to the rural areas with weak health infrastructure would overwhelm the local administration.

On Saturday morning India's federal health ministry said Chhattisgarh reported 4,174 fresh COVID-19 cases and 43 related deaths.

Reports said Durg accounted for 964 of the new infections taking the district's caseload to 41,032, including 766 deaths.

Chhattisgarh's COVID-19 case tally rose to 357,978 on Saturday and the related death toll has risen to 4,247.

A government spokesman said the 11 states categorized as "states of grave concern" were advised to take up immediate and effective measures to ensure the containment of active cases and daily deaths through adherence to the standard clinical management protocol.