COVID-19: AP logs 5,086 new cases; Chittoor reports highest cases

Around 1,745 people recovered from the infection on Thursday taking the state's total recoveries to 9,03,072. There are currently 31,710 active cases in Andhra Pradesh.

In the last 24 hours, AP tested 35,741 people. So far 1,55,70,201 samples have been tested in the state. Samples tested per million population stand at 2,91,577.

Meanwhile, AP reported 14 new deaths on 14 April taking the death toll to 7,353. These deaths were reported in Chittoor (5), Anantapur (2), Kurnool (2), Visakhapatnam (2) Kadapa (1), Guntur (1), and Krishna (1) districts.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy on 15 April directed the health officials to write to the Central government seeking COVID-19 vaccines amid a shortage of vaccines in the state. He said he would write the letter seeking the same if necessary.

Jagan held a meeting on Thursday at the camp office here to discuss the COVID-19 situation and vaccination programme in the state. He congratulated health officials for administrating 6.28 lakh doses of vaccine the previous day and achieving the stipulated target. Earlier, the state government had been forced to shut down several vaccination centers due to a shortage of vaccines. It had sought 27 lakh doses from the Centre.

Meanwhile, on Thursday the Chief Minister instructed the officials to prepare hospital beds for COVID-19 patients and launch ambulance services. He told officials to publicize 104 services and to ensure that hospital beds and treatment are provided through these services. The patients should be admitted to hospitals or advised home isolation based on the suggestion of doctors, Jagan said and added that ambulance services should be provided and treatment be expedited with the help of ASHA workers.

The Chief Minister also directed the officials to fix prices for treatment in private hospitals and ensure they don't charge more. He said there should be no scarcity of beds for COVID-19 patients and directed the officials to maintain a record on the availability of beds in Arogyasri empanelled hospitals and private hospitals. He said the fee and charges for treatment should be displayed at hospitals and the details on whom to complain if the hospitals charge more should be displayed. The cost of medicine and injections should also be displayed, he said, adding that strict action should be taken against hospitals that charge more from patients.