TNI Bureau: Andhra Pradesh has strengthened COVID-19 surveillance and preparedness measures following the deaths of two COVID-positive patients from Rajampeta and Kadapa. Health officials, however, have said there is no need for panic and that sporadic cases are expected.

The deceased were a 52-year-old man from Rajampeta and a 43-year-old man from Kadapa. The Kadapa patient died on July 7 while undergoing treatment at RIMS after being admitted with pneumonia, fever and breathing difficulties. The Rajampeta patient, who was suffering from lung infection and kidney disease, died on June 28 while receiving treatment at CMC, Vellore.

Following the deaths, health officials traced and tested the patients’ contacts. Eight people were found to be COVID-positive. All are asymptomatic, stable and currently under home isolation.

The State Health Department has formed a Rapid Response Team and set up a COVID-19 control room. Government hospitals have been directed to keep isolation beds ready and maintain adequate stocks of RT-PCR test kits, medicines, PPE kits and N95 masks. Samples have also been sent for genome sequencing to identify the variant involved in the cases.