Surge in Covid cases due to lockdown relaxation: Telangana government

♦ Before lockdown (March 2 to March 21): 22 cases in 19 families

♦ First lockdown (March 22 to April 7): 397 cases from 246 families

♦ Second lockdown (April 8 to May 3): 663 cases from 343 families

♦ Fourth lockdown (May 4 to May 30): 1005 cases in 470 families

♦ Families infected in first three lockdown (60 days)-589 (1003 cases)

♦ Families infected in fourth lockdown (26 days)-470 (1005 cases)

♦ Total Markaz related positive cases so far- 984

♦ These are figures pertaining to infection among locals

Hyderabad: Nearly 30 frontline government staff including health, police, municipal and sanitation were found to be infected with virus while discharging Covid duties in the last three months.

Also, the Telangana Health department has attributed surge in cases and virus spread to new areas of late to relaxations given when people started to come out of their homes more regularly as compared to previous three lock downs.

As many as 1005 cases from among 470 families were registered in the State in the fourth phase of lock down from May 4 to 30.

Public movement has increased from one place to other and this led to jump in new cases.

According to Dr G Srinivas Rao, Director of Public Health, Telangana, a birthday party affected 82 members in the city. Also, Covid-infected persons spread the virus to several families in Borabanda, Shadnagar and Jiyaguda.

Dr Srinivas Rao said that the first three lock downs were effectively implemented and people were confined to their homes and hence the number of cases was lesser comparatively.

Director of Medical Education Dr Ramesh Reddy felt that surge in cases was a natural phenomenon all over the country in wake of the lockdown relaxations.

He said that Telangana has readied all arrangements in advance including bed strength, facilities and medical staff to meet any kind of situation in the coming months.

He said that 170 ventilators were installed in Gandhi Hospital and also new oxygen lines are being installed at the facility (1500 lines), Gachibowli hospital (800 lines), with one line per one bed as well as district and area hospitals.

The senior health officials stated that wearing mask, ensuring physical distancing and following personal hygiene are a must for all to be free from virus infection.