From Our Bureau
16th August 2020
Telangana witnessed a surge with 894 COVID-19 fresh cases reported on Sunday, taking the State’s total to 92,255 confirmed cases. The death toll rose to 703, with 10 fresh fatalities reported in the last 24 hours. In all, 70,132 patients recovered so far, including 2,006 in the last 24 hours. The case fatality rate was 0.76 percent in Telangana as against the national average of 1.93 percent.
As on today, 21,420 active confirmed cases are in hospitals or in home quarantine. Of these, 14,404 individuals in home/institutional isolation include asymptomatic cases, as per the latest official update. The number of recovered patients accounted for 76.02 percent of the total positive cases in the State. Active cases constituted 23.22 percent of the total positive cases. Fatalities accounted for 0.76 percent of the total positive cases.
According to the Director of Public Health and Family Welfare, as many as 7,53,349 samples were tested in the State cumulatively, including 8,794 in the last 24 hours. Cumulative sample positivity rate was 12.25 percent. The Tests Per Million (TPM) population has seen a sharp increase to 20,291.
The total number of testing laboratories for RT-PCR/ CBNAAT/ TRUENAT tests is 39, including 16 government labs and 23 private labs. Besides, there are 1,076 rapid antigen testing centres run by the State Government.
The COVID positive cases were reported from 30 out of 33 districts on Sunday. The tally included 147 cases in GHMC area, 85 in Rangareddy district, 69 in Karimnagar district, 62 in Peddapalli district, 58 in Siddipet district, 51 in Medchal Malkajgiri district, 44 each in Khammam and Warangal Urban districts, 38 in Nizamabad district, 37 in Nalgonda district, 31 each in Jagtiyal and Mahbubabad districts, 30 in Mahbubnagar district, 29 in Sangareddy district, 21 in Jogulamba Gadwal district, 17 in Mancherial district, 15 in Nagarkurnool district, 12 in Suryapet district, 11 in Komaram Bheem Asifabad district, 10 in Adilabad district, nine each in Bhadradri Kothagudem and Warangal Rural districts, eight in Medak district, seven each in Jangaon and Kamareddy districts, six in Mulugu district, two each in Rajanna Siricilla and Wanaparthy districts and one each in Vikarabad and Yadadri Bhongiri districts. Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Narayanpet and Nirmal districts reported zero cases.
As on today, 61 Government hospitals have established a capacity of 20,396 COVID beds, of which 12,284 are isolations beds, 5,861 are oxygen beds and 2,251 are ICU beds. A total of 1,117 ventilators are available in these hospitals. As on date, the bed occupancy is 12.71 percent and 87.29 percent of the available beds are vacant. Only 2,592 beds were occupied and 17,804 beds were vacant.
The Gandhi Hospital, Secunderabad, is identified as the “Centre of Excellence for COVID Care,” where serious cases are admitted. The other major hospitals in Hyderabad where suspects and moderately symptomatic cases are admitted are District Hospital King Koti, Government Chest Hospital and Sir Ronald Ross Institute of Tropical Medicine (Fever Hospital).
The asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients requesting for institutional quarantine are admitted in Nature Cure Hospital, Govt. Nizamia Hospital, Govt. Ayurveda Hospital and Govt. Homeopathy Hospital.
Patients with moderate to severe symptoms, with COVID positive report are advised to go to Gandhi Hospital where the Government has made elaborate arrangements for treatment and management. Patients with symptoms but not yet confirmed and requiring COVID-19 testing should go to District Hospital, King Koti, Fever Hospital and Chest Hospital.
The Government has made elaborate arrangements for treating COVID-19 patients. Sufficient beds are available in Government hospitals. Based on the clinical requirements, beds are provided and treatment is given free of cost in Government hospitals. Sufficient quantities of personal protection equipment (PPE) and medicines are available in these hospitals.
The lockdown has been relaxed since the 16th May 2020. It is being observed that there is a lot of mobility and movement of people from all walks of life and of all age groups. People are travelling across the state and some of them are not following the basic preventive measures like wearing a mask, maintaining safe physical distancing and avoiding overcrowding. There has been a surge in the cases since relaxation of lockdown. (eom)
