Despite relatively lower testing numbers, Andhra Pradesh reported Covid cases above the 20,000-mark on Wednesday.

While 1.15 lakh tests are conducted per day on an average, only 90,759 samples were tested in the 24 hours ending 10 am Wednesday. However, the Covid tally remained faithful to the current trend, and stood at 21,452 during this period.

Three districts reported Covid numbers in excess of 2,000, while eight districts reported above 1,000 cases each. The remaining two districts had three-digit tallies.

East Godavari reported the highest tally of 2,927 cases, followed by Visakhapatnam (2,238), Chittoor (1,908), Guntur (1,836), YSR Kadapa (1,746), Nellore (1,689), Kurnool (1,524), Srikakulam (1,285), West Godavari (1,232), and Prakasam (1,192).

Meanwhile, 98 persons succumbed to the virus during the same timeframe.

Visakhapatnam with 11 deaths reported the highest death toll, while YSR Kadapa with two deaths reported the least number of fatalities on Wednesday.

With the latest additions, the state’s cumulative death toll jumped to 8,988, while the cumulative tally of Covid cases mounted to 13,44,386.

So far, the state has conducted 1,76,05,687 tests.

On a positive note, 19,095 people recovered from the virus in the same timeframe, taking the state’s total number of recoveries to 11,38,028.

The active caseload in Andhra Pradesh presently stands at 1,97,370.

For various reasons, the Andhra Pradesh Government has become heavily dependent on the Centre for taking up Covid relief activities. Its financial condition has deteriorated over the last two years because of collapse of the construction industry, stalling of Polavaram and Capital City works and also impact of Covid lockdowns.

The fate of other States is no different but their economy is not so into a crisis that AP is in. Amid this, AP CM Jaganmohan Reddy, his Chief Secretary and his Ministers have repeatedly urged the Centre for greater help to the State. The Centre allocated 480 metric tonnes of oxygen for AP on April 24 itself. That has proved to be largely insufficient. Now, the State Government is asking for at least 910 metric tonnes but the Centre has become helpless considering the rising demand in all other States as well.

On the other hand, the vaccination situation is also becoming alarming in AP. The State Government is mostly dependent on the free vaccine supply from the Centre. Whereas, the Modi Government has left it to the respective States themselves in April itself to buy vaccines directly from the manufacturers to meet their overall demand.

In the second wave, PM Modi has transferred the burden more on to the States considering the limitations of his regime to deal with the needs of 130 crore population in the country. If AP can’t generate its own resources, its people are sure to suffer for lack of vaccines and oxygen and also medicines.

AP DGP Gautam Sawang has announced stricter measures to deal with the Covid problem. He has asked the people to make use of the e-pass facility from Monday if they are required to do emergency travel to the neighbouring States. The e-pass facility can be accessed through the Police Seva app.

Actually, Tamil Nadu has made it mandatory for those coming from AP to take e-pass. Also, other States have restricted access to travellers from AP on their borders. As a result, the AP people going to the respective states are facing lots of problems. Moreover, the Covid second wave is only rising but not showing any signs of giving an early relief.

Amid this, the AP Police have no option but to start the e-pass facility immediately for the convenience of its citizens. This will help many Covid patients who are going to Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad for better treatment.

Mr. Gautam Sawang has also indicated that a final decision whether to continue the 18-hour curfew after May 18 or not would be taken only after reviewing the Covid situation at that time. Till then, there will be no permission for political or private meetings. For functions, they should take prior permission from the local officials.

Mr. Sawang said that section 144 would be in effect all over AP till further orders.

The Andhra Pradesh government has instituted a high-level enquiry into Saturday’s explosion that rocked a limestone quarry in Kadapa district, leaving 10 people dead, and several others critically injured.

The state’s Minister for Mines and Geology, Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy stated on Sunday that a committee comprising of five departments, has been set up for the purpose.

The inquiry committee, headed by the Kadapa district joint collector (revenue), will submit its report to the government within five days he added.

The minister said that a sum of Rs 10 lakh is being sanctioned as ex gratia to families of each of the deceased, while those injured will be given Rs 5 lakh each.

Pointing out that the tragedy occurred because adequate safety precautions were not observed while unloading the explosives, the minister stated that action will be initiated against the mine’s leaseholder.

The incident had occurred near Mamillapalle village in Kalasapadu mandal when the labourers were unloading gelatin stick from a vehicle for using them at a limestone mine.

Such was the impact of the explosion that the body parts of the deceased were blown apart and the vehicle was completely burnt.

The workers hailing from Kalasapadu and Pulivendula mandals were carrying gelatin sticks for blasting the rocks at the mine.

The Eastern Naval Command (ENC) will operate and maintain oxygen plants in all government and teaching hospitals across Andhra Pradesh.

The decision was taken at a meeting the state government’s representative M.T. Krishna Babu had with the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) of Eastern Naval Command and the Chief Managing Director of Vizag Steel Plant on supply, storage and maintenance of oxygen in the state, here on Saturday.

The ENC will take the responsibility of fixing leakages in oxygen plants, monitoring the condition of the plants and chalking out the precautions to be taken there. Four special teams have beenn formed and each team will be in-charge of three to four districts.

Arrangements are being made to airlift these teams to the required locations if necessary. These teams will fix the problems in the supply of oxygen besides solving other issues, an official release said.

The Navy has agreed to extend support to the state government in rectifying the technical errors in the oxygen plants. It agreed to transport 25 cryogenic oxygen cylinders, which are coming to the state from Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.

The Navy officials have approved to provide special vehicles for transportation of liquid medical oxygen containers for regular use and also to supply oxygen concentrators, D-type oxygen cylinders and other medical equipment required for Covid treatment.

Officials of Eastern Naval Command have agreed to allot 10 oxygen beds along with 60 normal beds for Covid treatment at the INS Kalinga hospital.

They have also agreed to develop infrastructure for an 150-bed temporary Covid hospital in Kancherapalem in Vishakapatnam district and requested the district administration to make arrangements for the required doctors and medical staff. The Navy has come forward to donate 200 D-type cylinders.

Meanwhile, Vizag Steel Plant (VSP) officials informed the state government that only 100 tonnes of MLO is being produced in two units, which have the capacity of producing 850 tonnes.

VSP also agreed to set up a 50-bed hospital with oxygen facility for Covid treatment at Gurajada Kalakshetram in Vishakapatnam. The Chief Managing Director of Vizag Steel Plant has said that an additional 150 beds will be arranged in that hospital by May 15.

The steel plant officials said that 250 beds will be available by May 30 while 600 beds will be available by June in that hospital, and requested the district administration to ensure that required doctors and medical staff are available accordingly.

The officials of Eastern Naval Command and Vizag Steel Plant also thanked the state government for providing 4,000 doses of Covid vaccine to the staff and their family members.