Ten new Covid-19 cases in Telangana: Total cases 59

Hyderabad: Despite a nation-wide 21-day lockdown, the number of Corona-positive cases continues to increase across the country. On 27 March, Telangana reported 10 new cases, taking the total number of Corona patients in the state to 59. The state government has decided to extend the lockdown till 15 April.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, while addressing a press conference at Pragathi Bhavan on Friday, said, "Most of those who tested positive on Friday have a history of foreign travel. Very few of these cases were locally-transmitted." He said the government is prepared to face any situation and is taking all necessary precautions, adding, an exclusive facility with 1,400 ICU beds will become operational within four days.

He said the government is creating isolation facilities in various parts of the city which can accommodate 11,000 patients if the need arises. He ruled out giving permission to private laboratories to test blood samples. "The Centre has permitted private labs to conduct these tests but we are keeping it on hold for now because we don't want to give private players a chance to rob people. We will allow private labs to conduct COVID-19 tests only after the government testing facilities are exhausted. Four government facilities are already available and a fifth one will become operational soon. Besides, CCMB, Hyderabad, will also be available to test 800 samples per day," KCR said.

The Chief Minister reiterated that the government is ready to go to any extent to face the crisis but these efforts will not be successful without the cooperation of the people. "The only way to check the spread of the virus is to remain in isolation. I request all to stay in their homes and support us in containing the spread of the virus at the local level," he said.