Mecca returned Anantapur man and Vijayawada businessman die of Covid-19, 3 deaths in AP

VIJAYAWADA: The death toll due to coronavirus has reached three after two more persons succumbed to the deadly infection in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday.

The COVID-19 positive cases in the state have increased to 266 with 14 more new cases reported on Monday.

Among the deceased is the 64-year-old-man from Anantapur and 55-year-old-man from Vijayawada.

The 64-year-old-man had contracted the virus from a person who returned from Mecca. He was admitted to Government General Hospital at Anantapur on April 1. Later he tested positive for coronavirus and died on April 4 morning.

The 55-year-old deceased was a native of Machilipatnam Town in Krishna district and a businessman by profession. He had visited Berhampur in Odisha by train on February 27 and returned to his hometown on February 29. On March 19, he had visited One-Town in Vijayawada.

He was admitted to a hospital at Machilipatnam on April 2 with some complications. Later he was shifted to Government General Hospital in Vijayawada on April 4. His test reports were received after his death.

It may be recalled that a 55-year-old man died of COVID-19 in Vijayawada city of Krishna district a few days ago.

With almost every positive COVID-19 case linked to Tablighi Jamaat congregation, coronavirus cases are surging in Andhra Pradesh.

The Kurnool district is fast becoming the hotbed of the pandemic. Most of Sunday's confirmed cases are from Kurnool. Rayalaseema district's tally has shot up to 56 from one on March 29. Of the 14 new cases, 5 cases were reported from Vizag, 3 cases each from Kurnool and Anantapur districts, 2 cases from Guntur and one case from West Godavari.

Andhra Pradesh had just 23 positive coronavirus cases on March 30. Exactly a week later on Monday, the state is grappling with 266 cases – an alarming rise of 243 cases.

The two north coastal Andhra districts of Srikakulam and Vizianagaram have remained unaffected by the virus so far.