VISAKHAPATNAM: The unconfirmed third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic seems to have hit the front-liners in Visakhapatnam. They include IAS officers, healthcare staff and policemen among others.
Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) commissioner Lakshmisha is among many officers infected by Covid-19.
"The commissioner might have been exposed to the virus due to his work schedules like interaction with the public, hospital visits and Covid1-9 protocol works. He developed body pains. We then tested, the results of which confirmed Covid-19 positive. He is presently under home isolation," a medical functionary told Deccan Chronicle.
This apart, the Visakhapatnam district medical and health officer Tirupathi Rao also tested Covid-19 positive. He also daily engaged in the Covid-19 protocol activities.
Gopalapatnam circle inspector Appa Rao also tested positive. Many healthcare workers including volunteers tested positive for Covid in GVMC limits, the medical sources said.
A total of 839 Covid-19 positive cases were reported in the last 24 hours including 174 in Visakhapatnam district alone, the second-highest after Chittoor district which registered 175 cases. Though there were no deaths in Visakhapatnam on Saturday, two deaths were reported for the last two days till Friday.
Speaking to this newspaper, King George hospital superintendent Dr. Mythili said, “Twenty-three patients are undergoing treatment for Covid-19 in our hospital as of date. It was a single-digit number last week. We registered a maximum of 1,200 patients against the capacity of 1,240 beds in May during the second wave. We will be able to estimate the Covid-19 situation after Sankranti.”
Even vaccinated also got positive in the tests. "The only option that is left with all of us is social distancing with proper usage of masks. People also should avoid unnecessary travel and social gatherings even including festivals like Sankranti, an Andhra Medical College professor said.
Covid-19 history in AP
Total 20,77,707 positive cases registered in AP
20,59,545 discharged
14,503 died
3,659 under treatment
AP tops in India by vaccinating 62 per cent in the age group of 15-18
