Strict measures help Telangana control second wave of Covid-19

In the initial weeks of May, the recovery rate was 90.47 percent, which has now gradually improved and reached 95.91 percent

Hyderabad: Strict containment measures, ranging from special Covid outpatient services in all districts, the door-to-door fever survey and the lockdown as well have played a key role in breaking Covid-19 transmission chains and controlling the pandemic in Telangana, officials said, pointing out that the consistent decline in active Covid infections over the last few weeks was a clear indication of the gradual waning of the second wave in the State.

Director of Public Health Dr G Srinivasa Rao, interacting with the media here on Monday, said the second Covid wave has gradually come under control in Telangana.

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“The drop in active Covid infections might lead to some easing of lockdown restrictions. However, the public must continue to follow Covid appropriate behaviour. The present scenario could change quickly if people throw caution to the wind and act irresponsibly,” he cautioned.

During the initial days of the lockdown, the number of Covid positive cases admitted to government and private hospitals in Telangana was close to 29,000, which has now dropped to 8,643 patients. The positivity rate on May 12 was 6.74 percent, which is now at 1.40 percent. In the initial weeks of May, the recovery rate was 90.47 percent, which has now gradually improved and reached 95.91 percent. The bed occupancy ratio has steadily dropped from 52 percent in the first week of the lockdown to 16 percent by June 13.

“All the vital parameters of the Covid pandemic including positivity rate, new active cases, bed occupancy ratio and recovery rates have improved significantly in Telangana. In the last two months, we have conducted three major field surveys in all the districts and now have launched the fourth round. In the first two rounds, our field workers visited one crore households each while in the third round, we covered 55 lakh households. Close to 27 lakh individuals were screened in the special Covid OPs across the State. These measures have paid dividends,” Dr Rao said.

The rise in recoveries also means there is an increase in discharge of recovered patients from private hospitals. “During this period, we have received about 350 complaints on 170 private hospitals, out of which 148 private hospitals were from Hyderabad. As per Court directions, we are also figuring out a way to ensure patients who were billed excessively by private hospitals are reimbursed. We urge people to send their complaints through WhatsApp to 9154170960,” he said.

Director of Medical Education Dr K Ramesh Reddy urged people not to get carried away by speculation over the third wave. “The intensity of the third wave will eventually depend on the public and how they follow Covid appropriate behaviour in the next few months,” he said.

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