Telangana continued to witness a spike in daily Covid-19 count while authorities have cautioned people to follow all the precautions to check the spread.

The state reported 434 cases in the 24-hour period ending Wednesday evening. A day earlier, the count was 403.

The daily tally has almost doubled in the last 3-4 days. Last week, the state had been recording 200-250 cases.

According to the health officials, the state is recording more than 400 cases for the first time after February 2022.

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) continues to report maximum number of cases. On Wednesday, the state capital recorded 292 cases, up from 240 the previous day. In neighbouring Medchal Malkajgiri district, the number of infections jumped from 11 to 28. However, in the other neighbouring district Rangareddy, the daily count dropped from 103 to 71.

According to the daily bulletin issued by the health department, out of 33 districts, 15 have zero cases while four districts reported a case each. Only two districts recorded the cases in double digits.

The authorities conducted 27,754 tests during the 24-hour period. While the daily count is rising, the state is not recording any death.

According to the director of public health and family welfare, the active cases in the stand stands at 2,680. A total of 129 people recovered from Covid during the 24-hour period. The recovery rate now stands at 99.15 per cent.

Following the surge in cases, the health department has asked people to follow Covid precautions like wearing a face mask and maintaining social distance.

Director of public health and family welfare G. Srinivasa Rao stated that the Telangana government is well prepared to tackle any eventuality. It is important to complete vaccination by taking both doses and it is also equally important to adhere to precautions against Covid, including wearing a face mask and maintaining physical distance, he said.

The health authorities in Telangana on Sunday sounded an alert in view of Omicron, the new variant of Covid-19 reported from South Africa and some other countries.

Health Minister T. Harish Rao held a meeting with top officials of the medical and health department to review preparations and surveillance measures regarding the new variant.

Director of public health Srinivasa Rao said no case of new variant was recorded in the country. Stating that the state is geared up to tackle any situation, he advised people not to panic but continue taking all precautionary measures.

The official said every citizen should be alert by following Covid safety measures. He said the department was closely monitoring the situation.

About the new variant, he said that no one is aware of its effect, severity or complications. “We still don’t know much about it. Whenever we receive an alert during pandemic, we have to be alert,” he said, referring to the advisory of the union health ministry to all states to be on alert.

Rao pointed out that passengers at airports are being screened by conducting RT-PCR tests as part of the measures to prevent new variant from entering the country. He said the passengers testing positive are being kept in 14-day isolation and their health is being closely monitored.

The official said the state has already taken adequate measures to tackle a possible third wave. For last 4-5 months the state is recording less than 200 new cases every day and there was no discernible rise in infections during last two days.

He said with the drop in number of cases, some negligence was observed with record to vaccination and in following Covid safety measures. “Whatever may be the variant, it’s in our hands to tackle it. One should not forget wearing face mask, hand wash, maintaining social distance and taking both does of the vaccine,” he said.

Director of medical education Ramesh Reddy appealed to people to be responsible citizens by taking Covid vaccines.

He said nearly 25 lakh people did not take second dose of vaccine despite completing the gap between doses.

Around 90 per cent of the 2.77 crore of targeted people have taken first dose while 45 per cent have taken second dose.