LUCKNOW: The

tally for Uttar Pradesh climbed to 23 with four new cases coming to light on Friday. All the four cases were reported in the state capital taking the total for the city to eight.

State surveillance officer, coronavirus, UP, Dr Vikasendu Agarwal confirmed that three of the patients were contacts of the student who tested positive on Thursday. "Three patients – two males and a female -- are relatives of the student who returned from UK recently and tested positive on Thursday. The fourth patient – a female – also has a travel history. She had also come back from London recently,” he said.

Chief medical officer, Lucknow, Dr

said that contact tracing and awareness exercise has been launched. “All the four patients have been admitted to the isolation ward at King George’s

,” he said adding, “Health teams have been deputed to take the case history of the fourth case to list out the contacts of the patient.”

Sources in the health department said that the fourth patient came back from London last week and remained asymptomatic. Oblivious to her condition and possible risk, she had organised a get-together for her friends last week.

“The patient is a Bollywood celebrity and has visited many places and people over the past week. Her guest list included several bureaucrats, ministers and businessmen from the city and also from New Delhi,” they said.