Coronavirus: Rajasthan reports one fatality, 54 new cases

Yash Goyal
Our Correspondent 
Jaipur, May 22 

Rajasthan on Friday reported a coronavirus death and 54 new cases of the disease. 

The latest death, in Pali district, has shot up the death toll to 152, whereas the case tally has reached to 6281, a medical bulletin said here.  

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Transport Minister Pratap Singh Khachariawas announced that the RSRTC bus operation on 55 intra-state routes would begin on May 23 on public demand. All preventive measures will be ensured during travel. Passengers would have to follow and obey the COVID-prevention guidelines and social distancing besides putting a face mask. 

As labourers from border districts returned home from other states, 1,159 workers have tested positive since May first week.  

Kota has reported 17 cases followed by Dungarpur 14, Jaipur 13, Jhunjhunu 6, Ajmer 2, Dausa and Bikaner one each. 

With nearly a 57 per cent recovery rate, 3,542 people out of 6,281 have tested negative and of the 3,170 have been sent to the home so far. 

Altogether 2,587 are active patients getting treatment in the state-run government hospitals.  

Jaipur has recorded the maximum casualties at 80, including 5 of Uttar Pradesh’s patients, followed by Jodhpur 17, Kota 13, Ajmer, Pali and Nagaur 5 each, Bharatpur and Sikar 4 each, three in Bikaner, two each in Alwar, Karauli, Jalore, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, and one each in Churu, Banswara, Udaipur, Pratapgarh, Sawaimadhopur and Tonk. 

Mandi Cess Reduction 

Owing to the demands of Khadya Vypar Sangh, farmers and traders, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot at midnight announced measures to reduce Mandi cess from 2 per cent to 0.5 per cent, with a proposal of a new regime of cess on agriculture produce. Agriculture produce and items imposed with 1.6 pc cess will be reduced to one per cent. Wool has been exempted from the cess. However, the CM had assured the representatives that any new cess would be deposited in Farmers’ Welfare Fund. Cess was effected to boost agri-business, he said.

Special Buses for Ash Immersion  

Chief Minister has directed the officials of RSRTC to run special bus services to Haridwar facilitating bereaved family members to immerse the ashes of their relatives who could not go there due to lockdown. Now special buses would ply to Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand after obtaining special permission of the respective government, the CM said, adding the authorities would have to keep an immediate contact with counter officials.