Telangana reports second coronavirus case

Telangana reported second coronavirus positive case on Saturday while two more are suspected to be affected by the virus.

Within hours after the state's first COVID-19 patient was discharged from government-run Gandhi Hospital here, a man who recently returned from Italy was tested positive. He was kept in isolation at the same hospital.

Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao told the state Assembly that two more persons were suspected to be carrying coronavirus symptoms. Their samples were sent to National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune for confirmation.

The Chief Minister said the health authorities had taken all measures to contain the spread of coronavirus. He said 200 personnel were deployed at Hyderabad Airport to screen the passengers reaching the city by over 500 flights every day.

Stating that the state government has already announced Rs 100 crore for various preventive measures, he said if necessary, Rs 500 crore would be spent.

Assuring the people that there is no need to panic, he said the government was ready to deal with any contingency.

KCR, as the Chief Minister is popularly known, said the state would take preventive measures like other states in the country to check the spread of coronavirus.

Pointing out that steps like closure of schools, shopping malls were taken in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru and Bhubaneswar, he said a high-level meeting of officials was discussing the measures to be taken in Hyderabad and other towns in Telangana.

He said a final decision on the preventive measures will be taken at the cabinet meeting to be held in the evening. IANS