Virus invades corridors of powerp: Covid fears haunt lawmakers

Hyderabad: The way lawmakers are getting infected with coronavirus sends a clear message that the unless the Disaster Management Act is made applicable to government programmes by putting a hold on inaugurations of welfare and awareness programmes, it would become difficult to contain the Covid pandemic.

One more MLA from the ruling TRS party tested positive. Nizamabad Rural MLA Bajireddy Govardhan tested positive for coronavirus. Doctors conducted the test as he complained of fever and cough. While Reddy tested positive, his wife tested negative. He has been rushed to Hyderabad.

The MLA had participated in various programmes, including double bedroom house inauguration in his constituency on Saturday.

More than 100 people, including TRS leaders and officials had attended the programme.

Earlier, another ruling party MLA from Jangaon Assembly segment Muthireddy Yadagiri Reddy tested positive and is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Hyderabad.

However, Telangana State SC and ST Commission Chairman Y Srinivas breathed a sigh of relief as he was tested negative for Covid. The tests were carried out following his gunman was tested positive.

While this is the situation here, in Andhra Pradesh, gunman of Dharmavaram MLA Kethireddy Venkatramreddy died due to Covid. Also, three more gunmen reportedly contracted the virus.

Out of fear, he did not disclose that he was positive and this resulted in seven others working in the MLA's office testing positive.

A senior health official on condition of anonymity said that if people throw social distancing norms to winds the surge in cases is bound to happen.

"The district authorities designated under the Disaster Management Act took no cognizance of the happening of such events since they were pegged as the government programmes and the people attending were from the ruling party," he added.