Telangana: 522 Covid cases in Nalgonda ring alarm bells

HYDERABAD: In what could alarm election authorities and health department officials, as many as 522 Covid-19 positive cases have been reported from Nalgonda district in the past one week alone. Nagarjuna Sagar assembly constituency, which will go to bypoll three days from now, falls in Nalgonda district which is witnessing a surge in cases.

While 109 positive cases were reported on a single day on April 12, there were 68 cases on April 13 though it was a holiday on account of Ugadi.On April 11, 31 cases were recorded. According to a health department bulletin, more than 80 cases a day were reported on four days of the week.
Officials said the Covid-19 spike was seen more in Nalgonda town and Nagarjuna Sagar limits where various political parties have been campaigning by organising meetings and roadshows. “Parties have been sending leaders to the district from other districts for campaigning. This is one of the reasons for rapid increase in the positive cases in the district,” a senior health official said.
Officials also attributed the rise in cases to large gatherings and people not wearing masks during election meetings and roadshows. The byelection is scheduled to be held on April 17.
Apart from Nalgonda, Khammam is also witnessing a sharp surge in positive cases. Over 450 Covid-19 cases have been registered in the district, especially in Khammam Municipal Corporation limits. On an average, 60 cases are being reported every day. In Warangal Urban district, 545 cases were reported between April 7 and 13. Elections to Greater Warangal and Khammam municipal corporations along with some municipalities are expected to be held by this month-end or first week of May.