Tirupati records first Covid-19 case, health dept on alert

Tirupati: After the Covid-19 pandemic affected millions of people across the world a few years ago, the virus has once again started spreading slowly in the form of the latest Omicron subvariant. Tirupati has now reported its first Covid-19 case in recent months after a 65-year-old woman from the urban area tested positive for the virus.

The elderly woman had been suffering from severe respiratory problems for the past few days and was admitted to a private hospital by her family members. Hospital staff collected her sample on July 23 and sent it to a laboratory in Chennai for testing. The report, received the next day, confirmed that she was Covid-19 positive. She has been undergoing treatment and under observation at Ruia hospital’s special isolation ward. Her condition is stable, according to the doctors.

District medical and health officer (DM&HO) Dr V Balakrishna Naik told The Hans India that the woman’s eight primary contacts, including her family members and a visitor from Hyderabad who had recently visited them, were immediately tested.

All of them were found to be negative for Covid-19. Dr Naik said the patient has several comorbidities, including tuberculosis, diabetes, and hypertension. She had also recently undergone heart surgery, making her more vulnerable to complications.

To a question, he said the district medical and health department has taken all necessary precautionary measures to deal with any possible increase in Covid-19 cases. A 15-bed special isolation ward with dedicated doctors and nurses has been kept ready, and the woman is currently being treated there. He added that sufficient medicines and oxygen supplies are available in the district and appealed to the public not to panic.

Ruia Hospital superintendent Dr B Manohar said the hospital is fully equipped to handle any Covid-19 cases in line with the guidelines issued by the Directorate of Medical Education.

Apart from the dedicated isolated ward, the hospital has sufficient stocks of essential medicines, medical oxygen, PPE kits, N95 masks and rapid testing kits to meet any emergency. Patients can be admitted without delay if the need arises. Dr Manohar said the symptoms of the current Covid-19 infection are largely similar to those of a common viral illness, such as fever, cold, cough, body pain and nasal congestion. Most adults have developed immunity through vaccination, making severe illness less common.

However, he advised people with diabetes, hypertension and other pre-existing medical conditions to remain cautious. He urged the public not to panic, assuring that the hospital and health authorities are fully prepared and all necessary preventive measures have been put in place.