VISAKHAPATNAM: Andhra Pradesh reported 2,442 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, taking the cumulative caseload to 19,73,996. The toll increased to 13,444 as 16 more people succumbed to the pandemic.
Five people died of the disease in Chittoor, two each in Anantapur, Krishna and Nellore, and one each in East Godavari, Guntur, Kadapa, Kurnool and Visakhapatnam. As many as 2,412 people were declared cured. There are currently 20,184 active cases, with 19,40,368 cumulative recoveries and 13,444 fatalities.
East Godavari reported 477 new infections, followed by Chittoor (433) and Krishna (308). Five districts recorded double-digit case numbers. Health officials tested 85,822 samples to detect the 2,442 new cases, which translates to a case positivity rate of 2.8%. The overall case positivity rate is 8%.
The state has so far reported 4,446 mucormycosis (black fungus) cases. With the decreasing Covid-19 case numbers, only 40 black fungus cases have been reported in the last one week. There are currently 765 active black fungus cases in the state, with the fungal disease claiming the lives of 414 people, while surgeries have been performed on 2,033 patients. Health officials said there are sufficient stocks of amphotericin and posaconazole injections in the state.
Meanwhile, panic buying of Covid medicines are being reported from the rural areas of Krishna district and also in some parts of Vijayawada following rumours on the start of the third wave of Covid-19. Krishna was among the worst-hit districts during the second wave, with over 28,000 positive cases reported in Vijayawada city alone between April and July.
Drugs such as Favipiravir, Agithromycin, Doxycycline and branded multivitamin tablets went out of stock during the second wave, and were sole in black at two or three times its actual price. Oxymeters and Spirometers, which actually cost less than Rs 1,000, were sold at Rs 3,000 during the peak of second wave.
Health wing authorities have warned of strict action against shops selling medicines over the counter without prescription. The district administration has also alerted corporate hospitals after the number of admissions in the Covid-19 ICU ward of GGH increased in the last five days.
