Bihar's COVID tally reaches 23,300, death toll mounts to 174

death toll due to COVID-19 in Bihar on Friday mounted to 174 with six fresh fatalities, while tally reached 23,300, a rise of close to 1,800 cases since previous day.

health department said state reported 901 fresh cases in last 24 hours. Siwan accounted for highest number of 122 new cases, followed by Nalanda (105), Patna (99), West Champaran (98) and Munger (58).

On Thursday, state's COVID-19 tally stood at 21,558.

health department said jump in cases was due to late results of tests which were conducted earlier.

Of six fresh latest casualties, two were reported from Bhagalpur and one each from Banka, Gaya, Katihar and Patna districts, department said in its bulletin.

Patna has recorded highest number of 28 deaths so far, followed by Bhagalpur (16), Gaya (11), Darbhanga (10), Muzaffarpur (eight), and East Champaran, Begusarai and Samastipur (seven each).

Patna tops COVID-19 tally in state with 3,245 cases, followed by Bhagalpur (1,455), Begusarai (1,066), Siwan (1,065), Muzaffarpur (965) and Nalanda (923).

recovery rate in state was 64.36 per cent and 896 patients recovered in last 24 hours. Till date, 14,997 patients have recovered.

number of tests conducted in last 24 hours was 10,273 and total number of samples tested till date was 3.58 lakh.

Meanwhile, Centre has taken a grim view of explosive rate at which coronavirus has spread across Bihar in recent past.

According to a statement issued by Union Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey, who hails from Bihar, a three-member team of experts will soon visit state and take stock of situation.

team will be headed by Luv Agarwal, joint secretary in Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare, as per communication to effect issued by Directorate General of Health Services (EMR Division).

team has been directed to "undertake visit immediately and coordinate with state health authorities to review existing situation and provide necessary support and guidance".