KCR elated by dip in COVID cases; says 21 districts will be Corona-free soon

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao said, the decrease in the number of COVID-19 cases in the state is an auspicious sign and there are clear indications that the state will be Corona-free in a few days. By 28 April, 21 districts in the state are likely to be free of COVID-19 cases, he hoped.

KCR held a high-level review meeting at Pragathi Bhavan on 27 April following his video conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the review meeting, he discussed the spread of Corona virus in the state, treatment given to patients, and implementation of the lockdown. Medical officials told the CM that in the past few days the state saw a steep decline in the number of positive cases.

On Monday, 159 people were tested for the virus and only two had tested positive. Also, 16 patients had recovered and were discharged on Monday. KCR said that 97 per cent of the COVID-19 patients have recovered and are being discharged. The decrease in the number of cases means gradually the number of containment centres in the state would also be reduced.

He said the contact tracing process of Markaz returnees had been completed and testes were being conducted. There was no need for people to worry as the spread of COVID-19 has been on the decline in the state in the past few days, he said. The medical and health department officials are ready to identify positive cases if they are reported in the days to come and necessary follow up action will be taken, he assured people.

KCR attributed the successful containment of the virus to the strict implementation of the lockdown. Initially, the virus spread from people who had returned to the state from foreign countries and later from those who had attended the Markaz in Delhi. The police and medical officials had established the links between these people and those who had come in contact with them. Tests were conducted and treatment given which helped in controlling the spread of the virus, he said.

“Till today 1,003 people have tested positive for the virus in the state. Of these 322 have recovered and been discharged. As of now, there are 646 active cases in the state. In 10 districts - Mulugu, Bhadradri, Kothagudem, Narayanpet, Warangal Rural, Wanaparthy, Nagar Kurnool, Mahabubabad, Siddipet, Yadadri, Bhongir, and Mancherial - not a single positive case has been reported. By 28 April, 11 other districts - Jagtial, Jangaon, Peddapally, Sangareddy, Jayashankar Bhoopalpally, Kamareddy, Mahboobnagar, Medak, Rajanna Sircilla, Karimnagar, and Nalgonda - will not have a single positive case. More cases have been reported in Hyderabad, Suryapet, Gadwal, and Vikarabad districts, while in other districts the number of positive cases is fewer."

The Chief Minsiter said that not a single case has been reported in several of the GHMC's 30 circles. "Certain circles have no active cases. The virus is confined only to a few circles. Due to this, several containment centres are becoming Corona-free. The government is reducing the containment centres where cases are on the decline." He also said that the quarantine period for several people in the state will end by 8 May.

KCR said that there was a growing optimism and confidence that in a few days there will be no COVID-19 cases in the state. "After this, if a case or two is detected, there will be no difficulty in treating them," he said, adding the government will not be complacent even when there is a decrease in the number of positive cases. "We are alert all the time. The medical and health department is ready to face any eventuality or eruption of new cases. Testing kits, PPE kits, N95 masks, tablets, instruments, and beds are ready. We are prepared to treat any number of cases,” KCR said.

The Chief Minister also said that the lockdown in the state will continue till 7 May as announced earlier. He urged people to cooperate and asked them to stay indoors unless it is very urgent and necessary to come out. "People from all faiths should offer their prayers and celebrate their festivals at home. We will reduce containment zones where there is a decrease in the number of positive cases and where there are no active cases. But people and officials in the containment areas should be on high alert,” he urged