43 fresh COVID-19 cases in Telangana; active cases now 605
Hyderabad, Apr 18 () Forty-three fresh cases ofCOVID-19 have been reported in Telangana on Saturday, takingthe number of active cases in the state to 605.
No death occurred on Saturday and the number ofpeople who succumbed to the virus stood at 18, it said.
With the addition of the fresh cases, the total numberof infections reported in the state rose to 809, a mediabulletin issued by the state government said.
It said 186 people have been cured/discharged tilldate from hospitals after recovery.
Out of the 43 cases detected on Saturday, 31 arefrom the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) area.
The Telangana cabinet would meet on Sunday to discusthe virus containment measures and whether to continuelockdown in the state strictly, as it is being implementednow, till May 3, or to give some concessions in line with theCentre's thinking.
An official release said Chief MinisterK Chandrasekhar Rao, who held a meeting with ministers andofficials today, directed that the measures to check thespread of virus be implemented effectively.
It should be ensured that no one remains withoutfood due to the lockdown, Rao said.
He asked the officials to adopt an effectiveapproach to contain the spread of the virus in the GHMCwheremajority of the cases are reported.
Rao suggested that those in containment zones shouldnot be allowed to come out under any circumstances.
Effective strategies should be prepared to check thevirus spread in other places in the state where positive caseshave been detected, he added.
Suggesting that tests should be conducted, by makingan accurate assessment on who might get infected from theCOVID-19 patients, he said the government is ready to test andtreat any number of people.
The state government has issued instructions tomunicipal commissioners and additional collectors of districtsto ensure that all medical shops and pharmacists collect phonenumbers of customers who buy medicines for fever, cough andcold, symptoms similar to COVID-19.
In a memo on Friday, Principal Secretary (MunicipalAdministration and Urban Development) Arvind Kumar saidit hasbeen observed that due to "hesitation and perceived socialstigma", people suffering from fever orcold symptoms whichmight be similar to coronavirus are approaching medical shopsdirectly on their own and asking for fever medicines.
"It is imperative that in a proactive manner wefollow up on these cases which are having fever and other suchsymptoms which might be similar to those of coronavirus.
We should be able to contact these patients and get atest conducted depending upon the symptoms," the memo said.
Health minister E Rajender, who inaugurated a blooddonation camp, referred to recent attacks on doctors, treatingCOVID-19 patients, and said the government would take toughaction against those who indulged in such attacks.
Meanwhile, Telangana IT and Industries ministerK T Rama Rao appealed to corporates and business houses in thestatenot to resort to layoff of employees.
Addressing the CII Telangana members over a videoconference, Rama Rao said government is putting in efforts tocontain and flatten the COVID-19 pandemic curve and that thestate is well prepared with sufficient quantities of PPEs,masks, testing kits and ventilators.
The state government has launched a helpline toaddress mental health and psychological problems that mayarise during the COVID-19 lockdown period. SJR GDK BNWELCOME BNWELCOME