TS RECORDS 2,982 NEW COVID CASES, 21 DEATHS

Telangana health authorities have increased the number of tests for Coronavirus to 1,00,677.

According to a medical bulletin issued by the authorities, the recovery rate from Covid19 is 93 per cent.

However, cases in home and institutional isolation continue to be high at 36,917. This indicates that the decline in new and mild cases is very slow.

The number of new cases in the state is 2,982 and deaths 21. With this the total number of cases has reached 5,74,026 and total deaths are 3,247. Daily deaths are continuing to be high and the drop in their rates is also low.

A senior doctor, on condition of anonymity, says, “These numbers do not reflect those cases, where patients are discharged from hospitals but die at home. There are also conflicting reports from the ground as Gandhi Hospital is recording more deaths every day than what is reflecting in the bulletin. Since Gandhi is the nodal Coronavirus centre, those who have died there are all Covid-19 patients. It is high time we gave proper numbers, as that will help plan better in controlling the next wave of pandemic.”

Experts state that till the vaccination drive is accelerated, there will not be much of a respite from new cases.

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation continues to record high numbers at 436, with Medchal Malkajgiri reporting 153 and Ranga Reddy 174 cases. Districts with high caseloads are Bhadradri Kothagudem reporting 118 cases, Karimnagar 143, Khammam

176, Mahbubnagar 101, Mahbubabad 115, Peddapalli 129, Siddipet 109 and Suryapet 117.

There has been a slight decline in Warangal Rural with 79 cases while Warangal Urban has reported 87 cases.

Continuously monitoring rural areas of the state is important, as the caseload in districts is high. There is also a need to deploy ASHA workers at the ground level to monitor fever and oxygen levels, which will help deal with hypoxia and bring severe Covid-19 cases to light, public health specialists say.

Experts point out that decline in cases does not mean that the virus is not around. Inappropriate behaviour and lapses in safety protocols post lockdown can lead to a spike in cases once again, they warn.

● EXPERTS STATE that till the vaccination drive is accelerated, there will not be much of a respite from new cases.