COVID 19: Only one person from each family allowed to buy essentials in Andhra Pradesh

Visakhapatnam: Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has directed the officials to strictly implement the lockdown and permit only one person from each family to buy essential commodities within three km radius from their houses.

Chairing a review meeting of Health and Police departments, Jagan directed the officials to take strict action against those who defy the orders.

The Chief Minister appealed to the public to stay home-bound until the situation gets better. "A few people are not following the instructions. Strict action will be taken against those who defy the rules," he said.

Jagan noted that almost 1300 beds have been made available for treating the suspected cases at VIMS Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupati, and Anantapur. District hospitals are also going to be equipped with 100-150 beds for treating the COVID-19 wards.

All the hospitals are equipped with ventilators. Plus 200 more ventilators will be arranged in ICUs. In addition, 450 ventilators in private hospitals across the State are also going to be utilized.

The Chief Minister instructed the officials not to permit any vehicles from other states except those carrying the essential commodities. He said 80 percent of the cases get cured through home quarantine and only 13.8 percent of patients are admitted to hospitals.

Special Chief Secretary of Health department K Jawahar Reddy, Additional Chief Secretary to Chief Minister PV Ramesh, APMSIDC Chairman Chandrasekhar Reddy, DGP Goutam Sawang, and other officials were present at the review meeting.