Good Sign

21 districts in TS set to be corona-free: CMGovt’s efforts yielding fruits as only 2 new cases reported; lockdown to be on till May 7

Beneficiaries line up outside a post office in Hanamkonda to collect Rs 1,500 assistance provided by the State government.

State Bureau   Hyderabad  28.04.2020

With just two coronavirus positive cases reported from Telangana on Monday, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao struck a positive note stating that the measures taken by the State government in its fight against the virus had begun yielding fruits, with 21 districts in the State likely to have zero active cases by Tuesday.

This apart, 97 per cent of the patients were recovering and getting discharged which was a good sign, he observed. The Chief Minister took stock of the prevailing situation in the State after participating in the video conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the day.

“Going by the decline in the number of cases, the State should be coronavirus-free in the next few days. This is a positive development and people need not worry since the Health Department is also fully geared up to tackle any situation should there be any further new cases,” the Chief Minister said at a high-level review meeting at Pragathi Bhavan.

Rao, however, made it clear that there was no scope for complacency despite the encouraging developments. “The government will not be complacent with the decrease in positive cases. We are alert all the time. The Medical and Health Department is ready to face any eventuality or if there are any eruption of fresh cases. Testing kits, PPE kits, N95 masks, medicines, instruments and beds are ready. We are prepared to give treatment to any number of cases.”

Stating that the lockdown in the State would continue till May 7 as announced earlier, he urged the people to follow the lockdown guidelines strictly. “Please do not come out unless it is very urgent and necessary. People from all faiths should offer prayers and celebrate their festivals at home,” he added.

Rao said with the spread of coronavirus decreasing steadily, the number of containment zones would also reduce gradually. Further, the process of checking the spread of Covid-19 by tracking those who attended religious prayers at Nizamuddin and the entire link of persons who came in contact with them, was underway, even as tests were being conducted regularly, the Chief Minister said.

He said strict implementation of the lockdown in the State was helping in curtailing the spread of coronavirus. Initially, the virus spread through persons returning from abroad and then from those who participated in the Markaz congregation. However, with police and health officials tracking down the sources, linking them efficiently and extending treatment to patients, the situation had vastly improved and helped in obtaining good results.

Curve flattening

The health officials said the curve of positive cases was slowly flattening. On Monday, only two of the 159 persons who were tested turned positive while 16 patients had been discharged after undergoing treatment.

As on Monday, a total of 1,003 positive cases were registered in the State of whom 332 were discharged after recovery. About 646 patients were currently undergoing treatment.

No positive cases were reported from 10 districts — Mulugu, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Narayanpet, Warangal Rural, Wanaparthy, Nagarkurnool, Mahabubabad, Siddipet, Yadadri Bhongir and Mancherial. Similarly, another 11 districts — Jagitial, Janagaon, Peddapalli, Sangareddy, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Kamareddy, Mahabubnagar, Medak, Rajanna-Sircilla, Karimnagar and Nalgonda, would be Covid-19 free by Tuesday, Rao said. (See PAGE 2)

21 districts in TS to be corona-free today: CM

The maximum number of Covid-19 positive cases were registered in the districts of Hyderabad, Suryapet, Jogulamba Gadwal and Vikarabad.

Even in GHMC area, about 30 circles did not report any positive cases, while several other divisions were reporting decline in positive cases, he said. The State government had been reducing the number of containment zones in Hyderabad since there was a decline in fresh cases being reported. The officials informed that majority of patients who tested positive in GHMC area would be completing their quarantine period on May 8. “Once we overcome the current situation, we will be able to handle it effectively even if there is a positive case occasionally,” the Chief Minister said.