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HC puts off Ramesh Kumar case to April 28

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HC puts off Ramesh Kumar case to April 28

The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday put off to April 28 the hearing on the petition filed by Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar challenging the Ordinance amending the AP Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, which cut short his tenure as SEC from five-year tenure to three years.

Ramesh Kumar had also challenged the appointment of retired Madras High Court judge Kanaga Raju was appointment as unconstitutional. In the petition, Ramesh Kumar argued that the government did not give genuine reasons or justifiable ground for its sudden decision to remove him and that the government had abused its power with the sole intention to shunt him out of the top post just because he had postponed the elections in light of the corona threat.

In the petition, Ramesh Kumar noted that the manner in which the government reduced the tenure of SEC amounted to encroaching upon the independence of the constitutional body.

On its part, the government countered Ramesh Kumar’s argument asserting that the ordinance amending the AP Panchayat Raj Act was issued as part of electoral reforms. The State government contended that the Ordinance was issued under Article 243 (K) of the Constitution. The government contended that under Article 243 (K) (2), tenure of the SEC doesn’t come under service conditions and argued that it was well within its rights to take a decision on the SEC.

The court hearing the arguments posted the matter to April 28 asking the government to file additional counter by April 24. The petitioners were asked to file their objections by April 27 to the additional counter filed by the state government. A batch of petitions were filed by TDP and BJP leaders challenging the state government’s decision to remove Ramesh Kumar.

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Andhra conducts 5,508 Covid-19 tests in a day

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Andhra conducts 5,508 Covid-19 tests in a day

he Andhra Pradesh government, here on Sunday, claimed that its doctors had set a record by conducting 5,508 Covid-19 tests a day, taking the second place among states conducting maximum number of tests per million.

The doctors achieved the record on Saturday even without using the rapid test kits, which are now available in the state. This was revealed at a review meeting, held by Chief Minister Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy, here on Sunday, on the containment of coronavirus.

The testing processing would be intensified in 7-10 days by conducting over 17,500 tests a day. The officials said the health personnel would start using random test kits in two days.

Random tests will be conducted in the red zones while 32,000 identified in family survey will also be tested.

The officials briefed the Chief Minister about the steps being taken in Kurnool, Guntur, Krishna and Nellore districts. The Chief Minister asked officials to focus on the red zones.

He said special care should be taken in maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in the hospitals for which a special drive should be taken up once in every two-three days.

Chief Secretary Neelam Sahney, Director General of Police Gautam Sawang and Medical and Health Special Chief Secretary Jawahar Reddy were among those who attended the meeting.

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AP Red Zones: 14.36% as per State Govt but 84.6% as per Centre

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AP Red Zones: 14.36% as per State Govt but 84.6% as per Centre

The YSRCP government in Andhra Pradesh has re-classified the red zones based on the infections at mandal level. This goes against the district-level classification announced by the Centre. Already, 11 out of the total 13 districts in AP were announced as red zone hotspot districts by the Union Health Ministry. But now, the Jagan Reddy government has announced only a few mandals in each of these districts as red zones. Obviously, red zone restrictions would be enforced only in these specific mandals but not the entire districts as announced by the Centre.

Now, the State government declared 97 out of the total 676 mandals as hotspots. As per the Centre, 84.6 per cent of AP districts are in red zone. As per the State based on mandal level classification, only 14.34 per cent of the state is in red zone. Kurnool has 17 hotspot mandals, which is the highest number in the state. Nellore has 14 red zone mandals, Guntur 12, Prakasam 9, East Godavari 8, Chittoor 8, Kadapa 7, Krishna 5, Anantapur 5 and Vizag 3.

The Opposition parties are criticising CM Jagan Reddy for continuing his ulterior political agenda without any regard for the people’s lives. They say virus is slipping out of control in AP because of the state government’s political games.

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How Jagan ignored warnings. From 1 to 603 & counting

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How Jagan ignored warnings. From 1 to 603 & counting

Corona ‘mahamarri’: No polls please

March 10: TDP president and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu raises concern over Covid-19, says holding local polls at a time when corona ‘mahamarri’ is spreading dangerously can be detrimental to public health

March 11: Ahead of civic body elections in Andhra Pradesh, violence turns its ugly head. TDP leaders Bonda Uma, Buddha Venkanna attacked allegedly by YSRCP leaders at Guntur. The attackers tried to stop the black Audi car in which the two TDP leaders were travelling and smashed the window panes of the car with sticks. In the incident, a lawyer was injured

AP first corona case

March 12: Andhra Pradesh reports first positive case of corona. A man who returned from Italy to Nellore tested positive for the virus. 73 positive cases in India

Telangana shuts

March 13-14: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrsekhara Rao foresees the threat, shuts schools, cinema halls, gyms, bans public gatherings. No restrictions on travel and local commuting

AP polls put off

March 15: State Election Commissioner Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar foresees the outbreak, puts off Panchayat and municipal elections citing corona virus situation in the country. Polls were scheduled on March 21 and 23.

Jagan meets Governor

March 15: Corona silently spreads in the state. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy meets Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan at the Raj Bhavan, calls SEC’s decision to postpone polls “arbitrary”. “We did not appoint Ramesh Kumar as SEC, it was Chandrababu Naidu who appointed his own caste man. But how can he act in such discriminate fashion,” asks Jagan

Virus from South Korea, Paracetamol will do: Jagan

March 15: A scare is being created, when there is no panic situation. Covid-19 can be harmful in cases of above 60 years people, with diabetes, blood pressure, asthma like conditions. This is a kind of virus that comes and goes. The virus inflicts those who are already sick and can cause harm to them. 80% of the people who are healthy are not affected by the disease – it comes and it goes. It may be cured by medication and that medication is paracetamol. Moreover, in China, those afflicted have been isolated into a stadium and treated. The virus is spreading from South Korea. In case anybody coming from foreign countries is found suffering from cough, cold and fever, bleaching powder should be sprayed on their belongings and things they use.

Virus spreads VERY VERY fast: Naidu

March 15: Coronavirus claims lives and it spreads VERY VERY fast. It cannot be taken lightly, especially by a man sitting on the CM’s chair. Shocked to see @ysjagan say that it can be treated with a Paracetamol, Naidu tweets @ncbn.

Only one case, no panic: CS

March 16: AP Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney writes to SEC, says polls should be held as per schedule. “State government has been taking all necessary steps to contain coronavirus,” she writes to SEC. Only one case reported in the state, that too the person has travel history to Italy. There is no local transmission. There may be no threat of the outbreak in alarming proportion in the next 2 to 4 weeks, she argues.

‘I am supreme’

March 16: Despite the early warnings from Naidu and SEC about the outbreak of corona virus, Jagan led AP government challenges SEC decision to put off polls, moves the Supreme Court

Virus for 1 year, polls 10 days only: Jagan

March 17: Postponing elections will not resolve the issue as we have to live with tackling the virus for at least one year. If the election process is over in 10 days, we could brace for any eventuality. Funds from the Centre will not be released if elections are delayed as there is no assurance that it will be held by the next financial year. Is it necessary to lose Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 crore by postponing the elections, asks Jagan

Funds can stay, lives important: Naidu

March 17: The government can appeal to the centre that it has tried to conduct elections but the polls are postponed due to extraordinary circumstances and therefore the funds should be released, Chandrababu Naidu gives his piece of advice. Hospitals would be insufficient if Covid-19 spreads; villages would turn into quarantines. CM has no
right to play with human lives. He is talking without understanding Covid-19 gravity

No polls: Supreme Court

March 18: The apex court upholds SEC decision to postpone elections, says election commission well within right to put off polls, affirmed that it can take decision when to conduct elections. As a matter of fact, SC heard most cases via video-conferencing, thermal screening of advocates were conducted at its premsises.

Ramesh Kumar writes letter to Union Home Secretary

March 18: Ramesh Kumar, who postponed the elections to local bodies, writes a five-page letter to Union Home Secretary. In the letter, Ramesh Kumar seeks police protection fearing threat to his life and that of his family members from the YSRCP dispensation. “There were about 35 incidents of prevention of nominations, 23 incidents of forceful withdrawals and 55 instances of violence targeting the principal opposition parties, mainly the Telugu Desam Party and the BJP-Janasena combine. The norms of peaceful and orderly conduct of elections were completely vitiated,” he wrote.

‘Letter fake’, AP govt orders probe

March 19: CM Jagan Mohan Reddy holds high-level meeting with DGP Gautam Sawang and other top police officials at Tadepalli office to discuss the contents of Ramesh Kumar letter, orders probe. Well, corona can wait. It is not a big threat. Don’t press panic button, not as yet.

AP shuts schools, bars open

March 19: Number of positive cases in India rose to 162. Around 184,976 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 7,529 deaths in 159 countries (WHO figures). AP government finally wakes up, orders closure of schools, malls, cinema halls and places of worship till March 31. By the way, bars and restaurants remain open with a rider that the owners were asked to maintain a distance of one metre between each table. Liquor money is important for state coffers, you see. Corona can wait.

Review meet on house pattas

March 20: Jagan holds a review meeting with higher officials, decides to distribute house sites to the poor on April 14, the birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar. AP reported three corona cases. Jagan says ‘no panic, only precaution’. “In China, 81,000 people were treated at home, and only 13.8 per cent got hospitalised; of them, only 4.7 per cent were in the ICU,” Jagan said.

Janata Curfew

March 22: ‘Janata Curfew’ from 7 am to 9 pm. Prime minister Narendra Modi says people should stay indoors, maintaining social distancing only way to fight the pandemic

World in corona grip

March 23: Globally, more than 14,000 deaths reported, over 334,000 infected (WHO).

India lockdown

March 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announces complete lockdown from midnight of March 24 for three weeks. Only essential services (grocery, vegetables, medical and pharmacies) were permitted. Work from home

Did corona wait in AP?

March 25: It did not. Corona, in fact, silently and gradually spread. AP reported two new confirmed Covid-19 cases. Total cases 10

Sees no prince, no pauper: Naidu

March 28: TDP 39th Formation Day. “Coronavirus spares neither the king nor the common man. Prince Charles too is afflicted by the disease. Everyone has to be vigilant and adhere to the government’s instructions, maintain social distance, minimise points of contact, and create awareness among all sections of society,” Naidu tells party cadre via teleconference.

AP tally 21 & counting

March 29: AP’s corona count rises to 21.India recorded over 1,000 novel coronavirus cases and 27 deaths due to Covid-19 infection.

AP tally 87

April 1: As many as 43 new cases of coronavirus have been reported in Andhra Pradesh, taking the overall count to 87 in the state

Naidu writes to Jagan: Poor testing, increase labs

April 3: AP not testing enough, Naidu writes to CM. Testing needs to be ramped up, increase the number of labs for testing more samples so as to identify the coronavirus positive cases and segregate them from others. Utilize MedTech Zone in Vizag to manufacture corona testing kits, ventilators. Rumours that corona deaths in Kurnool, Vijayawada and Rajahmundry were being suppressed, writes Naidu

Doctor says no medical supplies, govt sacks him

April 8: Sudhakar Rao, an anesthetist at a 150-bedded hospital in Nasipatnam, cries there is shortage of medical equipment such as N95 masks, gloves, PPEs. As is won’t, govt calls the allegations baseless, removes the doctor

AP Proposes Ramesh Kumar removal

April 9: Amid the growing corona cases, the ruling YSRCP government sends an ordinance to Governor Bishwa Bhusan Harichandan to remove Ramesh Kumar as SEC, begins the process of to appoint a new commissioner.

Governor disposes, AP corona tally 348

April 10: Corona can wait. Don’t panic, not as yet? AP in grip of corona, but Governor approves ordinance amending AP Panchyat Raj Act, 1994. Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar tenure cut short from five years to three years. On the same day, while the state government was busy with Ordinance to remove Ramesh Kumar, AP corona tally rose to 348, four deaths were reported

Raju is new SEC

April 10: Corona can wait. Don’t panic, not as yet. AP appoints retired Madras HC judge Kanaga Raju as new state election commissioner. Kanaga Raju meets Governor in the evening, assumes charge as new SEC.

Raju says get ready for polls

April 11: While the world was caught in the grip of pandemic and worried over how to contain the spread of the virus, the new SEC asks his staff to be poll ready as the elections can be announced anytime after corona abates. The government was still in ‘corona can wait. Don’t panic, not as yet’mode.

Ramesh Kumar removal unconstitutional

April 12: TDP leaders including its boss Chandrababu Naidu, senior partymen Yanamala Ramakrishnudu and Devineni Uma gave their wisdom saying instead of focusing on corona the government was indulging in vendetta politics by removing SEC, doctors..

Corona 420

April 12: In all these days, Jagan was in ‘don’t press the panic’ button mode. In all these days, YSRCP leaders believed Covid-19 was a TDP hoax and that the virus was the evil creation of Naidu to postpone elections. Well, we don’t know who was the real ‘chaar sau beez’ (420 in English). The tally in AP rose to 420 with 4 deaths. There is panic situation everywhere. Indeed, there is shortage of medical supplies, perhaps not enough testing was being done to detect more cases

Jagan team chanted ‘All is well’: Corona 603 & counting

April 12-16: AP CM held daily press briefings on corona, which were more like propaganda sessions with his colleagues patting Jagan’s back. We are doing good, look at other states . “All is well, all is well.” But all wasn’t well. The Rayalaseema region was the most affected, Kurnool, Nellore, Chittoor, Kadapa reported highest cases. The virus was affecting the frontline warriors too with no medical equipment such as PPEs, N95 masks and gloves, but the government claimed there were enough supplies. Instead of addressing shortage of medical supplies, the government brought medical services, doctors and medical staff under the draconian ESMA . Despite ESMA, doctors refused to work in Anantapur as medical staff contracted the virus. Meanwhile, YSRCP leaders were busy distributing central relief funds claiming that the cash was given by “Jagan anna”. Instead of overseeing relief works, meeting doctors and medical staff in hospital, YSRCP RS member Vijaysai Reddy was busy pouring vitriol in Twitter against political detractors, shooting off letters to DGP Gautam Sawang that Ramesh Kumar letter was a “forged and fake one”. The YSRCP government was busy fighting legal battles over the removal of party colours on government buildings or making English medium compulsory in government schools. The HC rapped the government on all the important decisions it had taken. But who cares? The government is hell-bent on challenging the HC verdicts in the Supreme Court.

Individuals and institutions do not matter. Voices of dissent are muzzled. Nagari Municipal commissioner was removed for his utterances that there was acute shortage of medical supplies as was Dr Sudhakar Rao. Ramesh Kumar in his letter to Union Home Secretary pointed out that “the norms of peaceful and orderly conduct of elections were completely vitiated. Those voices have struck a discordant note. Those voices were a telling commentary on the state of affairs in Andhra Pradesh. These voices are a clarion call to keep politics out of health. In all these days, Jagan seem to have squandered the most valuable resource in a pandemic: Time. When the time comes, Jagan will have to answer in the people’s court. Meanwhile, the number of cases crossed the 600-mark with 15 deaths.

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Doctors in short supply: AP wakes up to recruit 1184 doctors

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Doctors in short supply: AP wakes up to recruit 1184 doctors

It is not just the shortage of medical equipment, the government hospitals seem to be grossly understaffed as the government combats Covid-19.

As the number of positive cases in AP rose to 572 with 38 fresh cases reported in last 24 hours, the state government has suddenly woke up to the fact that it needs to beef up medical staff in its hospitals and decided to deploy more frontline warriors to fight the battle against Covid-19.

On Friday, the government had issued a notification to recruit doctors including 192 anaesthetists, 400 general physicians and pulmonologists. Interested candidates have to send their applications by April 19. It had also issued a notification for special recruitment of assistant professors and general duty medical officers on a one-year contract basis to work in Covid hospitals in the State. The government did not specify the number of assistant professors and general duty medical officers posts available.

Further, the government also asked the Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to come to the fore in meeting shortfall in masks. Experts are criticizing the state government for waking up so late in seeking the help of SHGs when the groups across the country are working furiously to make up the shortfall of masks and personal protective equipment (PPEs). A decision to this effect was taken by Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy at a high-level meeting attended by Alla Nan, Jawaharreddy, Botsa Satyanaraya, DGP Gautam Sawang. According to some reports, more than 16,000 SHGs across the country so far made more than 20 million masks apart from lakhs of liters of sanitzers and hand wash. In Andhra Pradesh alone, there are more than 6,52,541 Self Help Groups (SHGs) under the Velugu in rural and urban areas in Andhra Pradesh. During the TDP regime, Chandrababu Naidu has immensely encouraged the SHGs in various activities including in the start-up space.

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Andhra woman refused husband’s entry to home without Covid test

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Andhra woman refused husband’s entry to home without Covid test

The surging fears and stigma over coronavirus infection forced a woman in Andhra Pradesh refused entry to her husband in the house, till he underwent Covid-19 test.

The incident occurred in Venkatagiri in Nellore district when the man stuck in Nellore since the lockdown began finally returned to his home town.

The man, working in a gold shop in Nellore, was stranded there since lockdown was enforced last month. He finally succeeded in reaching Venkatagiri on Wednesday. However, his wife asked him to first undergo the screening for coronavirus before entering the house.

She said this was necessary for the safety of the children and the community. She suggested he stay in a local Anganwadi centre and requested volunteers to get a test done on him.

The health personnel later took the man to Nellore, where his samples were collected. The test result was negative, much to the relief of the man and his family.

“I would not have risked the lives of children and those living in the neighbourhood. That’s why I insisted that he enter the house after undergoing the test,” the woman said, defending her move.

In a similar incident early this week, a village sarpanch in Telangana did not allow her mother to return home from another village due to strict enforcement of lockdown after a man tested positive.

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Did Jagan Sarkar divert more than half of state’s doctors to Vizag? Why?

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Did Jagan Sarkar divert more than half of state’s doctors to Vizag? Why?

The opposition parties are mounting their attacks on the failures of the YSRCP government in taking timely preventive measures. The government health bulletin details on April 14 reflected its negligence. The official figures showed lesser doctors and health workers in districts where more infection cases were reported while lesser affected districts have more staff. If this was true, it was a serious mistake, say TDP leaders. Unfortunately, 58 per cent of the state’s total 4,779 doctors and 16,481 paramedical staff were shown in records as working in Visakhapatnam alone in this virus crisis.

Some leaders pointed out that official records showed only 8 doctors and 6 nurses working in Kadapa despite its 31 cases. Kurnool has 91 cases but there are only 50 doctors and 50 medical staff. In Guntur, which has 109 cases, only 88 doctors and 271 nurses and paramedical staff were shown as working. Nellore has 56 cases but it has 45 doctors and 90 staff. Prakasam district, with 42 cases, has 72 doctors and 182 staff. Whereas, in Visakhapatnam, which has only 20 cases, 2,771 doctors and 9,624 medical staff were shown as working. There are 382 doctors and 1,186 staff in Vizianagaram and 207 doctors and 378 staff in Srikakulam.

The leaders deplored that infectees’ details were not being disclosed in Kurnool, Vijayawada and Guntur and +ve confirmations were being announced after the death of patients. This is causing panic among those who attend the funeral services. People’s health has fallen in danger because of the government’s negligent attitude.

The leaders also said that YSRCP MLAs from Srikalahasti, Macherla and Kanigiri violated the lockdown but they were not issued notices and no cases were filed against them. They suggested that the DWCRA women be encouraged to make face masks which may be made available for the poor people in large numbers.

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AP govt announces Rs 2,000 to those who completed home quarantine

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AP govt announces Rs 2,000 to those who completed home quarantine

In a move to encourage home quarantine compliance, the Jagan-led AP government on Thursday announced cash incentives to the corona positive patients in home quarantine.

The state government has decided to pay a cash incentive of Rs 2,000 to those corona patients who completed home quarantine. Currently, the government spends Rs 600 for each patient in quarantine facility, another Rs 600 for transporting the patient.

Considering this, the government had decided to pay Rs 2,000 to patients in home quarantine. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting held by Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy at Tadepalli office with minister Alla Nani, Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney, DGP Gautam Sawang and top health officials.

The meeting was held to take stock of the situation arising out of corona. AP reported nine new positive cases of corona on Thursday taking the tally to 534.

The number of active cases now stood at exactly 500 after 20 people were discharged, 14 deaths were reported. The nine new cases were reported in Kurnool, Krishna and West Godavari, three each in the three districts. The Modi government on Wednesday declared 11 hotspots in Andhra Pradesh including Kurnool, Guntur, Nellore, Prakasam, Krishna, YSR, West Godavari, Chittoor, Vishakhapatnam, East Godavari, and Anantapur.

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Andhra Police alerted over currency notes as possible infection source

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Andhra Police alerted over currency notes as possible infection source

A communication sent from the Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police’s officer to police force highlighted the possibility of catching coronavirus infection through currency notes but the office later clarified there is no evidence of it yet.

“It’s just one of the possibilities of catching infection which our staff in office have incorporated in one of the many routine messages which are sent on a daily basis to keep alerting units on the ground. Just to be aware of the possibilities and to keep them alert all the while,” said a statement from Director General of Police Gautham Sawang

“As on date. There is no proof or any established evidence of contamination by currency notes of any kind whatsoever in the state,” it added.

The clarification came after an internal circular to police units surfaced. It mentioned that health officials grew suspicious about the role of currency in spread of coronavirus while analysing three positive cases without any travel history or contact with such returnees.

Of the three, one is a teacher from East Godavari district, another is a woman from Krishna district and the other a RMP doctor from Guntur district.

Mentioning these examples, the DGP office advised the police heads of all cities and districts in the state to encourage digital transactions for safety.

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Centre declares 11 Red Zones in AP, 8 in Telangana

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Centre declares 11 Red Zones in AP, 8 in Telangana

The Modi government has finally declared Red, Orange and Green zones in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana depending on the number of corona virus cases reported during the proposed extended period of lockdown.

The government has identified 170 districts in the country as Covid-19 hotspots classifying them under the Red Zone, 207 districts as non-hotspot districts falling under the White Zone and 353 districts as not affected at all by the pandemic, which fall under the Green Zone.

In Andhra Pradesh, 11 districts were classified as Red Zones, while eight districts were declared as Red Zones in Telangana. The districts that fall in ‘Red Zone’ category in AP include Guntur, Kurnool, Nellore, Kadapa, Krishna, Vishapatnam, Prakasam, West Godavari, East Godavari, Anantapur and Chitoor. Guntur is the most-affected district in Andhra Pradesh with 118 cases despite efforts to contain the spread of the virus. Kurnool is the second most affected district in the state with 97 cases, followed by Nellore with 56 cases, Krishna (45), Prakasam (42), Kadapa (33).

In Telangana, Hyderabad, Nizamabad, Warangal (urban), Medchal, Jogulamba Gadwal, Ranga Reddy, Karminagar and Rangareddy were declared as Red zones. There will be no activity in the red zones — the districts where sizeable number of cases were detected or areas which were declared hotspots. The containment hotspot clusters in Telangana include Suryapet, Medak, Adilabad, Sangareddy, Khammam and Badradri Kothagudem.

On Friday, the Telangana government had marked 212 areas across the state covering over 4.50 lakh households as containment clusters or red zones, an exercise to prevent corona virus spread

In Andhra Pradesh, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam – the two districts which have not reported even a single positive have been declared as ‘Green Zones’. Green zones will be in the districts where there is no COVID-19 case.

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AP tally touches 483, govt recruiting contract doctors

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AP tally touches 483, govt recruiting contract doctors

Andhra Pradesh added 10 more coronavirus cases in the course of the day, taking the state’s tally to 483 by 9 p.m. on Tuesday. The state had witnessed one of its highest jumps in Covid-19 cases when 37 persons tested positive on Tuesday morning.

Giving out the latest updates, the state nodal officer reported that five cases from Guntur district, three cases from Anantapur and two cases from Kadapa district were detected from the tests conducted between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

With 16 persons discharged so far, the number of persons currently in hospital for treatment stands at 459. The death toll in AP due to Covid-19 is 11 — three persons in Krishna district, two persons in Anantapur, two persons in Guntur and one person each in Kurnool and Nellore districts.

Guntur, with 112 cases, has witnessed the highest number of coronavirus cases followed by Kurnool (90) and Nellore (56).

Meanwhile, the state government has started a Covid-19 special recruitment drive and issued a notification inviting applications for contractual posting as specialists and general duty medical officers in government general hospitals and district hospitals.

In a bid to reduce the possibilities of spreading Covid-19, the state government has also banned NGOs and other private institutions from organising blood donation camps.

The state nodal officer, however, clarified that persons requiring regular blood transfusion and haemophiliacs can approach the police with documentation provided by the hospital authorities.

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Guntur continues to lead in Covid-19 cases as AP tally surges to 473

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Guntur continues to lead in Covid-19 cases as AP tally surges to 473

An overnight surge in coronavirus cases, took Andhra Pradesh’s positive cases to 473 on Tuesday morning, health officials said.

On Monday evening, the state confirmed 439 positive cases as Guntur district continued to report the highest number of positive cases in the state. A trend which has been developing over the last 2 days.

The results of the tests conducted between 5 pm, Monday and 9 am Tuesday, show that 16 cases were detected from Guntur district, 8 cases were detected from Krishna district and 7 cases were reported from Kurnool district. Anantapur district reported 2 cases and one case was registered in Nellore.

According to the latest updates, Guntur district’s tally reached 109, the highest in the state. Kurnool district, with 91 cases stayed in the second position, while Nellore is in third position, with 56 cases.

In the initial weeks of testing, Kurnool had reported the highest number of coronavirus cases. But over the weekend, Guntur began reporting more cases and on Monday, it dislodged Kurnool as the district with the highest number of COVID-19 cases. The state government has put both the districts on top alert mode. Till Tuesday morning, 14 persons have been discharged after being cured of coronavirus in Andhra Pradesh, while the death toll stood at 9 persons. Currently, 450 affected persons are receiving treatment in the state.

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AP tally touches 439, new cases continue to surface in Guntur

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AP tally touches 439, new cases continue to surface in Guntur

Andhra Pradesh reported seven new Covid-19 cases on Monday evening, raising the states tally to 439.

The information is based on the results of tests conducted between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Monday. The state nodal officer reported that four cases were detected in Guntur district, while Nellore district registered three positive cases.

With the latest updates, Guntur district maintained its lead over Kurnool district in terms of number of positive cases. On Monday morning, Kurnool had made way for Guntur as the district with the highest number of coronavirus cases in Andhra Pradesh.

In the initial weeks of testing, Kurnool had reported the highest number of coronavirus cases. But over the weekend, Guntur began reporting more cases, and on Monday, it surpassed Kurnool as the district with the highest number of Covid-19 cases. The state government has put both the districts on top alert mode.

Guntur district leads with 93 cases, followed by Kurnool district with 84 cases, while Nellore district has reported 56 cases so far.

Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts have remained untouched by the Covid-19 pandemic. These are the only ones among AP’s 13 districts that are free of coronavirus.

Till Monday, 12 persons have been reported cured and discharged from hospitals in Andhra Pradesh, while seven persons have died of coronavirus till now. Currently, 420 affected persons are receiving treatment in the state

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AP govt rolls out telemedicine services to expand reach

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AP govt rolls out telemedicine services to expand reach

Amid its continuing offensive against the Covid-19 pandemic, Andhra Pradesh is now turning to telemedicine services as a means of reaching out to people seeking medical advice and support.

On Monday, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy launched the DR YSR Telemedicine programme, which provides online consultation services with doctors for out patient services as well as for Covid-19 patients.

State government officials said that the YSR Telemedicine programme would help the health department locate people with symptoms of Covid-19. Persons showing the symptoms need to place a missed call to 14410 following which an executive will call back to collect the details.

This is to identify and isolate Covid-19 cases based on doctors’ advice.

As of April 11, 286 doctors and 114 executives have registered their names voluntarily to deliver services under the DR YSR Telemedicine programme and the staff will be working in three shifts from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“The Chief Minister ordered the officials to strengthen this programme and ensure regular monitoring and increase the number of doctors if needed,” an official in the Chief Minister’s Office said.

On receiving the patient’s details through the telemedicine executive, a doctor will respond through audio or video conferencing facility, and prescribe the medicines and tests required through SMS.

Covid-19 symptomatic patients will be sent to PHCs or district and state-level hospitals for further treatment.

In case home treatment is prescribed, officials said the medical prescription for the patient will be sent to the medical officers at the patients’ location, and required medicines will be packed and sent to the patient through Asha workers, ANMs and volunteers.

The medicine delivery services will be provided to non-Covid-19 patients as well.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

COVID-19: AP tally is 432, Guntur tops with 90 cases

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COVID-19: AP tally is 432, Guntur tops with 90 cases

COVID-19 cases continued to climb in Andhra Pradesh, with 12 new persons testing positive on Monday morning. As per the state nodal officer, the latest findings relate to tests that were conducted between 9 p.m. on Sunday, and 9 a.m. on Monday. With the latest update, Andhra Pradesh’s tally stands at 432.

The lion’s share of 8 cases were reported from Guntur district, while Chittoor district reported 2 cases. Krishna and West Godavari districts reported one case each.

Following the latest update, Guntur district tally has touched 90 cases. With this, the district has surpassed Kurnool district which was leading the district-wise tallies till Sunday evening. For the past few days, more number of COVID-19 cases have been reported from Guntur district. The state government has put both the districts on top alert mode.

With the latest update, Guntur district leads with 90 cases, while Kurnool district has been pushed to the second spot with 84 cases. Nellore has 52 cases. Srikakulam and Vizianagaram remain the only districts untouched by the COVID-19 pandemic in Andhra Pradesh.

So far 12 persons have been reported cured and discharged from hospitals in Andhra Pradesh, and 7 persons have died of coronavirus. Currently, 413 affected persons are receiving treatment in the state.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

SEC: AP High Court adjourns hearing for next Monday

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SEC: AP High Court adjourns hearing for next Monday

The AP High Court admitted nearly 6 petitions from ex State Election Commissioner N Ramesh Kumar and others seeking scrapping of the Jaganmohan Reddy government’s orders reducing the SEC term to remove Ramesh Kumar. The court heard all parties on video conferencing in view of the lockdown and adjourned the hearing for next Monday when detailed comprehensive hearings would be held.

The petitioners asked for immediate relief but the advocate general asked for time to file counter. The court gave time till March 17 for the government counter. The former SEC and other petitioners asked the court for revoking the GOs 617, 618 and 619 which led to the removal of Ramesh Kumar and appointment of Justice Kanagaraj in his place. Ramesh maintained that he has time till March 31, 2021 to complete his tenure which cannot be denied with GOs or Ordinance.

In all, historic 6 petitions were filed against the YSRCP Government decision. Ex minister Vadde Sobhanadreeswara Rao and BJP former minister Kamineni Srinivas also filed petitions. Advocate Jandhyala Shankar argued on behalf of BJP.

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Telangana portal finds Andhra temple video fake

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A lodge converted into a quarantine centre in Andhra Pradesh was claimed to be a temple in a video widely circulated on social media, which has been exposed as fake news by a website of the Telangana government.

A Facebook post had claimed that Kanipakam Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka Swamy temple was converted into an isolation centre and Muslims are wandering inside the temple with their footwear on. Factchecking of the post by https://factcheck.telangana.gov.in revealed that the facility shown is not the temple, but a lodge by the name Sri Ganesh Sadan. The Andhra Pradesh government is using the lodge as a quarantine centre.

An image of a woman lying on a hospital bed is being shared with the claim that Dr Vandana Tiwari died in the attack by Muslims in Uttar Pradesh when she went to screen them for COVID-19. Factcheck found that Vandana Tiwari was a pharmacist in Madhya Pradesh and was working against the spread of COVID-19 in the State and she died due to brain haemorrhage.

Officials said nearly 78,000 users visited the Factcheck portal since its launch on April 2 to check the spread of fake news, misinformation and rumours in the backdrop of coronavirus spread and the consequent lockdown.

The Information Technology, Electronics and Communication (ITE&C) of Telangana partnered with Factly Media and Research to develop the dedicated web portal to check the veracity of news being circulated on social media platforms.

Around 500 users reported fake news on the portal. Some of them were answered and others are being investigated for their authenticity.

The fakenews checked on the website include a video of dead bodies being lifted by a crane and then thrown into a mass grave. This was attributed to the current situation in Italy but Factcheck has found out that the video clip is part of a 2013 movie – ‘The Flu’.

A circular purportedly issued by the Ministry of Tourism ordering the closure of hotels, restaurants and resorts in the country till October 15 was also found fake.

A message with a few lines purportedly written by Ratan Tata was found to be fake. The industrialist himself clarified through his official twitter account that the viral message in question was neither said nor written by him.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

COVID-19 tally 420, AP sees 66% rise in one week

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COVID-19 tally 420, AP sees 66% rise in one week

With 15 fresh cases reported by Sunday evening, Andhra Pradesh’s COVID-19 tally reached 420 on day 19 of the national lockdown. The state nodal officer said that the findings are obtained from results of tests conducted between 9 pm on Saturday and 6 pm on Sunday.

On Sunday evening, Guntur district reported the highest number of 11 coronavirus cases in the state. 4 cases were reported from Nellore, and 2 cases were reported from Kurnool, while Chittoor and Kadapa districts reported 1 case each.

Meanwhile, the coronavirus death toll in Andhra Pradesh climbed to 7, with one more death reported on Sunday. The state nodal officer reported that a 52-year-old male patient had died in Guntur district, on April 10.

With 12 persons reported to be cured and discharged from hospitals, the number of persons being treated for COVID-19 in the state is currently 401.

A comparison of this weekend’s tally with the data from last week indicate that Andhra Pradesh has witnessed a 66 per cent rise in COVID-19 cases during the week. On Sunday, April 5, the state’s overall tally stood at 252 cases, whereas the tally on Sunday, April 12 stands at 420.

The majority of cases detected in the state have been connected to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation that took place from March 15-17, in Delhi. A review meeting chaired by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, on Sunday morning, noted that of the 417 positive cases detected by 9 am on Sunday, 199 are related to people who had returned from the Delhi event, while an additional 161 positive cases are contacts of the Delhi returnees.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

AP to buy 16 cr masks to give it to for every person

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AP to buy 16 cr masks to give it to for every person

The Andhra Pradesh government here on Sunday decided to provide protective masks to every resident to block spread of coronavirus and ordered procurement of 16 crore masks.

At the coronavirus review meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, officials said 32,349 people had been referred for tests after the third household survey in the state.

By Saturday, 1.43 crore of the the 1.47 crore households had been surveyed. The health officials prescribed tests for 9,107 people during the survey.

As of Sunday, the state has reported 417 Covid-19 cases. Of this, 13 have foreign travel history and 12 are their contacts. 199 cases are of people who attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi between March 15-17 and 161 who came in thier contact.

Chief Secretary Neelam Sahni, DGP Gautam Sawang and Special Chief Secretary (health) Jawahar Reddy were among those who attended the review meeting.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

Andhra Deputy CM apologises for remark against Tablighi Jamaat

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Andhra Deputy CM apologises for remark against Tablighi Jamaat

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister K. Naryana Swamy on Saturday night apologised for the comments he made earlier in the day about the Tablighi Jamaat.

The YSR Congress Party leader tweeted that if some words used by him while appealing to all who had visited Delhi to undergo Covid-19 tests had hurt anybody, he apologised for the same. “I am withdrawing those remarks forthwith,” he said.

Referring to some videos, which were subsequently found to be fake, Narayana Swamy had allegedly made certain remarks about the food habits of Tablighi members, drawing strong condemnation from various quarters.

He stated that Andhra Pradesh would not have more than 26 coronavirus positive cases had the Markaz event participants not brought it to the state.

Narayana Swamy’s comments came barely a week after Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy appealed to the people not to view the coronavirus cases from a religious angle.

Jagan Reddy had said the disease could have spread from events of others like Ravi Shankar, Jaggi Vasudev, Mata Amritananda, Paul Dinakaran or John Wesley.

“We should not discriminate people as it happened that way and was not premeditated. We have to put up a united fight like Indians, giving no room to any caste or religion,” Jagan had said.

Telugu360 is always open for the best and bright journalists. If you are interested in full-time or freelance, email us at Krishna@telugu360.com.

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