PATNA: Covid-19 cases continued to show a downward trend with 2,603 new ones registered on Wednesday, and in the same period, 6,641 people had recovered. Officially, 99 deaths were reported, taking the toll to 4,846. One black fungus death was reported at IGIMS. The new cases reported by the health department are against 1,31,916 samples tested with a positivity rate of 1.97%. The overall caseload has reached 6,98,329, but with 6,62,491 recoveries, there are now 30,992 active cases in Bihar. The IGIMS reported nine deaths of Covid-19 patients undergoing treatment there, apart from the death of a person with mucormycosis. While 16 patients got admitted on Wednesday, 10 discharged, and the hospital currently has 218 patients. AIIMS-Patna reported five deaths, the youngest being a 32-year-old man from Sheohar. Here, 15 patients got admitted, 14 discharged, and there were 193 patients in the hospital. On the other hand, the NMCH reported two deaths, including one from the Rupaspur locality of Patna. Here three Covid-19 positive patients were admitted and 11 discharged and there are 125 patients in the hospital. Of a total of 2,603 new cases, 316 are from Patna, followed by Nalanda (170), Muzaffarpur (137), Samastipur (123), Begusarai (117), Vaishali (117) and Supaul (107). Meanwhile, 65,112 doses of Covid-19 vaccines were administered on Wednesday, and this included 58,850 beneficiaries who got the first shot and 6,262 who got the second shot. IGIMS black fungus joint team: Accounting for the rise in black fungus cases and the expertise from different fields required to treat it, the IGIMS is starting a joint OPD of the eye, ENT and neuro from Thursday. Both suspected, as well as confirmed cases, will be jointly monitored by a team of doctors. “If surgery is required, then the patient will be admitted by the operating department concerned. If only medication is required, the medical team will take care and in case no admission is required, then the patient will be sent to the OPD. Serious patients will be treated in an emergency,” read a statement shared by IGIMS superintendent Dr Manish Mandal.