Counter Covid with caution

Chances of surge in cases of coronavirus high as migrants from across the country continue to reach TS, warn experts

Hyderabad: The last few days have witnessed a lot of travel happening between districts and even inter-State, as people of all walks of life got an opportunity to travel to their destinations after remaining stuck in a lockdown that lasted for nearly two months.

From the initial stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, with over 1,100 coronavirus cases reported so far, Hyderabad has literally been a ground-zero for coronavirus infections in Telangana, while the districts, barring a few had by and large remained low transmission zones. However, this could change in the coming days, as migrants from across the country continue to reach districts in Telangana, thus increasing chances of surge in cases of coronavirus.

While Hyderabad has received a lot of foreign evacuees who are in 14-day quarantine at private hotels, it is the districts in the State that received a large migrant population from States like Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan, where coronavirus infection has been intense.

Districts that have received a large number of migrants from other States include Jagityal, Nizamabad, Jangaon, Bhupalpally, Karimnagar, Khammam, Mahabubabad, Mancherial, Nalgonda, Nirmal and Sircilla. At present,137 migrants who came back to Telangana have already tested positive. It is also a fact that all the migrants who recently arrived to their homes are under self-quarantine and lot depends on individuals, their family members and the community in village, to observe precautions and stop chances of transmission of the virus. “There has been a surge in cases due to exemptions in travel restrictions. While health wing has put migrants in quarantine, at an individual level, persons must be careful. Physical distancing, wearing masks while going out, protecting senior citizens and most importantly ensuring people with co-morbid conditions are protected, is vital,” says Director of Public Health and Family Welfare Dr G Srinivas Rao.

The health officials have also urged public not to hesitate or feel stigmatised to self-report any kind of Influenza like Illness (ILI). “In case, persons with co-morbid condition are infected and they do not report and allow their medical condition to fester, that can probably be risky,” health officials said.

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