‘There is no need for panic as there is widespread protective immune memory in the population from vaccination as well as prior infections.’
IMAGE: A health worker collects a nasal swab sample of a woman for the COVID-19 test. Photograph: ANI Photo
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After two Covid-related deaths and eight active cases were reported in Andhra Pradesh, the state health department has gone on high alert, while neighbouring states, including Odisha, have stepped up surveillance and testing as a precautionary measure
Tamil Nadu authorities also moved to reassure the public, saying there is no need for panic as the current variant is not considered virulent
A senior official in the Union health ministry told Business Standard that the situation is being monitored closely
“The ministry is keeping a close watch on the situation. Such sporadic cases occur every year,” the official said
Key Points
- Andhra Pradesh reported two Covid-related deaths and eight active cases, prompting heightened surveillance and hospital preparedness across the state.
- Odisha and Tamil Nadu strengthened monitoring, testing and preventive measures while urging people to remain cautious without panicking.
- Authorities have instructed hospitals to keep isolation wards, ICU beds and medical support ready for any potential increase.
- Health experts say currently circulating variants remain Omicron descendants, with no evidence of a more aggressive or lethal strain.
- The Union health ministry and WHO continue monitoring global Covid trends as test positivity remains low despite reported cases.
Covid Surveillance Intensifies
“We have strengthened our surveillance, testing, and reporting system. The government has already asked all government hospitals to keep isolation wards and intensive care units (ICUs) ready. Those who died had comorbid conditions,” Kadapa District Medical and Health Officer Ravi Babu told Business Standard
Babu said 40 people had been tested over the past few days and all the results were negative
Hospitals have been directed to keep isolation facilities ready, with adequate beds, ICUs, and medical support
Authorities have urged people not to panic but to remain cautious, maintain hygiene, wear masks in crowded places, and seek medical attention if they develop Covid-like symptoms
Rath Yatra Health Alert
With the annual Rath Yatra scheduled for July 16, health authorities in Odisha have also gone on high alert
Special attention is being given to districts bordering Andhra Pradesh, including Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, and Nabarangpur
Reading the signals
The first case involved a 52-year-old man admitted to the Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences in Tirupati
Though he was later shifted tothe Christian Medical College in Tamil Nadu, he died on June 28
A post-mortem reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test confirmed that he had Covid
According to Andhra Pradesh health authorities, the man also had a Klebsiella pneumoniae bacterial infection, along with diabetes and chronic kidney disease
This was followed by the death of another 46-year-old man admitted to the Government General Hospital in Kadapa on July 7. He had bilateral lung damage and pneumonia
Omicron Variant Update
While authorities do not see any immediate cause for concern, the government is closely monitoring variants such as XFG and BA.3.2
According to the World Health Organization, around 45,000 Covid cases have been reported worldwide over the past three months
However, the test positivity rate remains low at 1.2 per cent
“There is no need for panic as there is widespread protective immune memory in the population from vaccination as well as prior infections. All the variants that have circulated since early 2022 have been descendants of the milder Omicron variant,” said Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman of the Indian Medical Association’s National Covid Task Force
“No aggressive or lethal variant has been identified in the past four years. Occasional cyclical increases are expected as the virus continues to evolve. The elderly and people with underlying health conditions are advised to take extra precautions to avoid infection,” he added
WHO Covid Assessment
According to media reports, Odisha has directed hospitals to test all patients admitted with Severe Acute Respiratory Illness for Covid and to test at least 5 per cent of Influenza-Like Illness cases
The directorate of public health and preventive medicine in Tamil Nadu has advised elderly people, pregnant women, individuals with chronic medical conditions, and those with weakened immune systems to follow preventive measures and maintain good hygiene
The state has also continued routine pre-operative Covid testing for patients with severe respiratory illness
Based on these tests, Covid infection was confirmed in 990 people in 2024, 1,250 in 2025, and 335 so far this year, taking the cumulative total to 2,575, the government said
Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
