Officials sound alert over three COVID-19 cases in Andhra
VIJAYAWADA: The Health Department has issued a statewide alert following the detection of Covid-19 symptomatic cases in Visakhapatnam and Kadapa, and a surge in neighbouring states.
All District Medical and Health Officers (DM&HOs) have been directed to intensify surveillance, public awareness, and preparedness efforts.
The heavy inflow of traffic from affected states into Andhra Pradesh also adds to the risk of virus transmission. Three cases have been confirmed in the State, and one is suspected.
A 75-year-old woman from Chagalamarri in Nandyal district was suspected to be Covid-19 positive at RIMS Hospital in Kadapa, after being admitted with a high fever.
However, there is conflicting information about her status, with RIMS Superintendent Dr GV Rama Devi confirming her Covid-positive status and treatment in the Covid ward, while Kadapa DM&HO Dr K Nagaraju claimed the patient was suffering from age-related ailments.
In Visakhapatnam, a 28-year-old woman from Pithapuram Colony tested positive, and her condition is stable under home isolation. Another family member and the doctor who treated them also tested positive. Health officials conducted a door-to-door survey and tested her family members, who have been advised to isolate.
The Health Department has asked district authorities to prohibit mass gatherings, enforce Covid-appropriate behaviour at public transport hubs, and advise vulnerable groups to stay indoors.
'No need for panic, our health infra combat ready'
The Health Department officials also advised the usage of masks in crowded areas, and people with symptoms are urged to get tested.
Officials have been instructed to ensure the availability of PPE kits, triple-layer masks, and round-the-clock testing facilities across districts. The Health Department is taking all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus and protect public health.
Responding to a query from TNIE, Special Chief Secretary (Health, Medical and Family Welfare) MT Krishna Babu said, 'There is no cause for panic. The patient in Visakhapatnam is stable and under proper care. Our health infrastructure is fully prepared with sufficient PPE kits, testing kits, masks, and trained personnel. We are conducting genome sequencing and monitoring symptomatic individuals closely. The public must stay calm and avoid unnecessary panic. The government will continue to update regularly.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Deccan Herald
an hour ago
- Deccan Herald
Covid: 17 new cases reported in Karnataka
A total of 184 new Covid-19 tests were conducted and the positivity rate stood at 9.2 per cent.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Lens on new pharmacy colleges in Maharashtra over complaints about forged maps, NOCs, occupancy certificates for approvals
Mumbai: Pharmacy colleges established in the state over the last three years have come under scrutiny following complaints about forged documents, including certified maps and occupation certificates for buildings, being submitted for approvals. More than 115 colleges offering B Pharm and nearly 200 offering D Pharm have emerged during this period. Acting on these complaints, state govt has ordered a re-inspection of all such institutions to verify the authenticity of their documents and whether they meet all the requirements. The aim is to contain the mushrooming of colleges in the state and prevent vacancies of seats during admissions. Data from the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) shows that over 30% of seats remained vacant last year in both B Pharm and D Pharm courses in the state. In a recent order, govt stated that several complaints were received by the higher and technical education minister regarding pharmacy, diploma, degree, and postgraduate institutions that were granted approval by submitting bogus documents such as certified maps, no-objection certificates (NOCs), occupancy certificates, and utility certificates to state and central govts. The order directed: "The validity of these documents should be verified with the relevant authorities, and an institution-wise inspection report should be submitted to confirm whether adequate educational facilities are available. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Novi ortopedski sandali za moške poletje 2025. Fiippy KUPITE ZDAJ Undo " The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) gives approval to new institutions once affiliating universities and respective state govts provide them with NOCs. Milind Umekar, president of the Indian Pharmaceutical Congress Association, a federation of five pharmaceutical associations, highlighted two key reasons behind the rapid increase in pharmacy institutions in Maharashtra. "The demand for pharmacy courses surged after the Covid-19 pandemic, as people began recognising growing opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, including research, clinical studies, pharmacovigilance, formulation and development, and drug or vaccine manufacturing. India ranks third globally in drug production by volume and is among the top exporters. Secondly, before 2022, the PCI imposed a moratorium on setting up new institutes. Once this was lifted following a court order, several colleges rushed to introduce pharmacy programmes," he said, adding that a comprehensive re-inspection exercise is crucial to ensure all institutions meet PCI norms, including the required number of qualified faculty, infrastructure, and laboratories. A representative from a college management said that in the last three years, many colleges were given NOCs by the respective universities, mainly Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University (BATU) Lonere, without any physical inspection and based on documents submitted by the institutions. "BATU has the highest number of affiliated pharmacy colleges in the state, and most may have come up in the last three years. The university, set up exclusively for technical colleges in the state, faces a severe shortage of manpower, impacting the quality of education in the affiliated institutions," he alleged. A govt official said that officials from the Maharashtra State Board of Technical Education and DTE have started carrying out the inspection exercise, adding that no timeline has been provided.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Maharashtra reports 19 new COVID-19 cases
Mumbai: The state recorded 19 new Covid-19 cases on Sunday, taking the state's tally of the viral infections in this calendar year to 2,337, a health department official said. Of the new cases, eight are from Mumbai, six from Pune and its outskirts, two from the limits of the Pimpri Chhinchwad Municipal Corporation near Pune and three from Sangli and nearby areas. No fresh fatality due to coronavirus has been reported in the last four days, an official statement said. The health department said it has conducted 25,519 Covid-19 tests across the state since Jan 1, adding that 2,007 patients have recovered to date. Meanwhile, Mumbai has reported 942 cases, including 509 in June, so far this year. Since Thursday, no deaths due to the viral infection have been reported in the state. A total of 32 patients have succumbed to the virus in the state since January 1, of whom 31 had comorbidities (pre-existing health conditions that can increase the risk of severe illness), the statement said.
