26 new coronavirus positive cases reported in AP; tally rises to 252 in state

Amaravati, Apr 5 (): The coronavirus curve wassurging upward at a rapid pace in Andhra Pradesh as 26 caseswere added during the day on Sunday, taking the overall tallypast the 250 mark to 252, with Kurnool district fast becomingthe hotbed of the pandemic.

In all 62 cases were added in the state since Saturdaynight.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Chief Minister Y SJagan Mohan Reddy over phone on Sunday evening and discussedthe situation in the wake of the mounting number of positivecases, primarily due to the Tablighi Jamaat congregationattendees.

The two discussed the measures being taken to containthe disease as well as the facilities for the affectedpersons, official sources said.

Covid cases, which were just four till yesterday, shotup to 27 since Saturday night and further up to 53 by Sundayevening in Kurnool district, as per the latest bulletin of theMedical and Health Department.

Close to 190 people from Kurnool district attended theJamaat event in New Delhi, the largest delegation from AP.

And this was clearly reflecting in the increasingnumber of coronavirus cases from the district, officialsources said.

"Results of more tests from the district are awaitedwhile many persons and their contacts still remain to betested. The numbers may go up further," the sources added.

While Kurnool topped the state list with 53 cases, SPSNellore came second with 34 and Guntur third with 30 cases.

More than 90 people from Guntur and 70 from SPSNellore district attended the Jamaat event.

With five coronavirus patients discharged fromhospitals after recovery, and the death of a 55-year old man,the number of active cases in the state stood at 246,according to the latest bulletin.

The two north coastal Andhra districts of Srikakulamand Vizianagaram are the only ones that remain unaffected bythe virus as they did not record a single positive case sofar. DBV SS