Bhopal, Apr 5 (IANS): The health department hierarchy crumbled under burgeoning coronavirus crisis in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday with Principal Secretary of the department Pallavi Jain Govil and Additional Director (health) Veena Sinha testing positive for the dreaded virus.

Eight more persons tested positive from among other cases reported on Saturday, Chief Medical and Health Officer of Bhopal Sudhir Kumar Daheria said. So far, 17 positive Covid-19 cases have been reported in the state capital.

Meanwhile, journalist K.K. Saxena, who was in the news for attending a press conference of former Chief Minister Kamal Nath and subsequently testing positive for the virus, has completely recovered from the infection, a government bulletin said.

There were fears of the virus infecting many journalists who had attended the presser. They were advised to isolate themselves. Saxena's daughter Gunjan, who on return from London was reported positive for the virus, was also cleared of the infection.

Madhya Pradesh is staring at the third stage (community infection) of coronavirus with the rapid rise in the number of cases. Indore, Bhopal, Ujjain, Morena, Gwalior and Shivpuri have been affected by the crisis. The health authorities have, however, allayed fears about that stage though.

The Saturday evening bulletin said that 165 persons have been infected in the state so far. Among these, 115 were in Indore, 12 in Morena, 15 in Bhopal, 9 in Jabalpur, 7 in Ujjain, 2 each in Gwalior and Shivpuri and one each in Chhindwara and Khargone.

There have been 11 deaths so far, seven in Indore, two in Ujjain and one each in Khargone and Chhindwara.