One COVID-19 death, 18 positive cases reported in Telangana

Hyderabad, Apr 9 () A fresh death and 18 new cases ofCOVID-19 were recorded in Telangana on Thursday, taking thetotal positive cases in the state to 471, Health Minister ERajender said. The death toll due to COVID-19 in the state rose to 12. The number of people discharged cumulatively was 45 andthe active cases 414, Rajender told reporters here. Only one person was on ventilator support, he added. A media bulletin on COVID-19 said till date there was noevidence of community transmission of the virus in Telangana. It said 101 hotspots have been identified in the state.

Rajender said testing of samples of those who returnedafter participating in the Tablighi jamat event in Delhi andtheir contacts had been completed.

The number of cases related to the Delhi congregation was388, according to a release. The minister said tests are being conducted for all thosewho had returned from foreign countries and their contacts. He also said there was a possibility of about 60-70people (related to the Tablighi event) being discharged onFriday and expressed hope that others too would be sent homeafter recovery by April 22. As being said from the beginning, Telangana would havebeen corona-free state by now if these Markaz (Delhi religiouscongregation) cases are not there. It is the same in all thestates, he said. The number of cases has come down because of thelockdown, with 99 per cent of people confining themselves totheir homes, the Minister said. Rajender also said the state government would soonintroduce tele-medicine for the benefit of people having anyother health problems during the lockdown. The state government would also offer counseling bypsychiatrists over telephone for those in need, he added. State Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar visited Mallepallyarea in the city along with local MLA Jaffar Hussain Meraj,DGP Mahender Reddy and other officials as part of containmentmeasures for coronavirus. The government has identified 12 containment clusters inthe city to combat the spread of COVID-19, according to anofficial release. SJRVS VS