COVID-19: Telangana reports 414 cases, GHMC areas alone constitute 103
The last time the state reported more than 400 cases were on January 5 when the state reported 417 cases.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 23 March 2021 5:23 AM GMT
Hyderabad: Telangana reported 414 new COVID cases on Monday taking the overall tally to 3,03,867 in the state. The last time the state reported more than 400 cases were on January 5 when the state reported 417 cases.
The state reported three new deaths on March 23 taking the total death toll to 1,674. The fatality rate in the state is 0.55 percent which is less than the national average of 1.4 percent. Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) area on Monday reported 103 new cases. The neighboring Rangareddy district reported 27 new cases. Medchal Malkajgiri reported 31 and Sangareddy 8 new cases.
Other districts of Telangana are also seeing a surge in cases. Nirmal on Monday reported 32 new cases while Nizamabad reported 18 new cases and Warangal Urban 12 cases.
The government tested 68,171 citizens on Monday. This is the first time the state has tested more than 65,000 citizens in a single day. So far 97,18,833 samples have been tested in the state. Samples tested per million population stand at 2,61,118. Reports of 805 samples are awaited. The state tested 29,995 (44%) primary contacts while 8,180 (12%) secondary contacts.
State Health Minister Eatala Rajender on Monday said that the state government is on high alert in the wake of rising COVID-19 cases in neighboring states. The health minister asked all hospitals to be ready with medical services if the cases increase, and also increase the number of RT-PCR tests in the state.
There are only 20 Government RT-PCR / CBNAAT / TRUENAT centers in the state. Around 60 private centers too are operational. On Monday, 61,413 tests were conducted at Government centers.
The state currently has 3,151 active cases. Of the total active cases, 1,285 are under home isolation. Of total positive cases, 70 percent are asymptomatic with no severe signs of distress, while 30 percent are symptomatic.
Speaking to NewsMeter Dr Rakesh Mishra- Director of Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology said, "Over 18 Indian states are reporting a surge in COVID cases, Maharashtra is in the lead. There are multiple reasons for this, however the most crucial being 'carelessness of public' and violation of COVID norms. Other reasons would be increase in economic and domestic activities, re-opening of educational institutions, theaters. Elections in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the recently concluded in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh would also be a reason to rise in fresh cases".
He further added, "India has seen the presence of the UK, Brazil and South Africa variants but they contribute to 5 % of the new cases. There are other variants originated In India which are spreading at a speed. The scientists at CCMB are studying the COVID positive samples to learn the actual cause and the results may be in a week or two".
The CCMB receives samples from states like Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
India recorded 40,715 fresh infections taking the tally to 1,16,86,796 total. Nearly 199 deaths have occurred in the last 24 hours, taking the toll to 1,60,166.
Several parts in the country are witnessing a second Covid wave with authorities re-imposing restrictions to control the spread of the virus.
Maharashtra (24,645), Punjab (2,299), Gujarat (1,640), Chhattisgarh (1,525) and Karnataka (1,445) are the five states with the highest surge in cases in the last 24 hours, Health Ministry said.
