Bhopal, Jun 13 (IANS): With 24 by-elections lined up in Madhya Pradesh over the next couple of months, the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government seems to have preferred smart means over wise ones to improve its report card on the coronavirus crisis.

The pandemic is still peaking in the state with more than 150 patients testing positive every day during the past fortnight.

The Chief Minister had warned people about possible explosion of cases in June and July. The virus has, indeed, spread rapidly taking the state to number four slot in the nation on corona deaths. The toll was 440 till Friday evening.

With Indore and Bhopal figuring among top ten cities with active cases, the state on Friday has 10,443 active cases with the virus spreading to 51 of the 52 districts. The fear of continuing surge persists in the state.

The "figure conscious" government first cut down on the frequency of health bulletins. Sources in the medical fraternity in Bhopal and Indore say that the hospitals are turning patients away after preliminary tests, asking them to stay quarantined at home. These patients have been placed in the "recovered" column, they claim.

On Thursday, Health Minister Narottam Mishra tried to take credit for his 50 days as minister by claiming the second spot with 68.6 per cent "recoveries". The active cases could be higher and recovery much less, but for the "smart trick". The health authorities reject many samples for one reason or the other and keep the figures under check, according to the sources.

For long, the Health Department bulletins would present district-wise data, with the worst-affected districts first. Indore has remained on top ever since the bulletin was started. From June 4, the bulletins followed alphabetical order to ensure Indore slips lower down as Chouhan was to visit Indore on his maiden trip since assuming charge as Chief Minister for three days.

Active cases in Indore were pegged at 30 per day.

On Chouhan's return to Bhopal on June 8, the bulletin reverted to the old format and Indore started getting more than 40 active cases every day. Friday's count was 50. With close to 4,000 cases, Indore still ranks among worst affected cities in the country.

In Bhopal, hospitals that offer treatment only for corona are getting a higher number of patients. Many samples are rejected to show higher count of recovery, as per the sources. The number of those discharged on recovery is inflated. Some of them have returned with a relapse of corona symptoms. Indore and Bhopal both have reported cases where the patients died of coronavirus after being discharged on recovery.

On Thursday, the Health Department reported the rural march of the virus. The Chief Minister held a virtual conference with some village heads to caution them about the scene changing on the return of migrants who might have been infected during travel.