Telangana government gearing up to re-impose lockdown in Greater Hyderabad: Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao

HYDERABAD: With the number of coronavirus positive cases touching 1,000 every day in the city, the state government is gearing up to re-impose lockdown for at least 15 days in Greater Hyderabad.
Indications to this effect were given by chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao at a review meeting on Sunday. “Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has decided to finalise the strategy to contain the spread of coronavirus in the GHMC jurisdiction in the next three to four days. The chief minister said a decision will be taken on re-imposing lock-down under the GHMC limits for a few days,” said a release issued from the chief minister’s office.
A detailed discussion took place at the review meeting on the measures to be taken to bring under control the spread of coronavirus particularly in the GHMC limits. Health Minister Eatela Rajender informed the meeting that several medical and health officials and medical experts have suggested another 15-day lock down under the GHMC limits to bring the situation under control.
The chief minister said Greater Hyderabad is a metropolitan with one crore population. Like other major cities in the country, the spread of coronavirus is also high in Hyderabad. People started moving around after the lockdown was lifted. This led to the spread of the coronavirus.
In Chennai, the lock down was reimposed to contain the virus spread. Other cities in the country are also thinking on similar lines. Medical and Health department has also proposed that re-imposition of lock down in Hyderabad would be a good move given the present covid-19 scenario, the chief minister said.
“But re-imposition of lockdown will be a very major decision. Government machinery and people should be made ready for this. Especially the police department should be kept ready. Cabinet meeting should be convened. A decision on lock down should be taken by eliciting views from all the concerned. Let us examine the situation for three days. If need be, Cabinet meeting will be convened in three to four days to discuss proposals for the lockdown, alternatives and other related issues and a decision will be taken,” CM KCR said.
However, the chief minister said there was no need to get anxious or scared due to more number of positive cases being registered in the city. The state government has made all arrangements to offer proper treatment to all the needy, he said.
Health minister Rajender while explaining the prevailing situation said: “coronavirus is spreading fast in the country. In Telangana too, there is an increase in the number of positive cases. When compared to the national average, the death rate in Telangana state is less. Necessary treatment is being given to the positive patients. Thousands of beds are in place in both government and private hospitals and colleges. Patients who are in critical conditions are treated in the hospitals. Asymptomatic patients are given treatment at their homes,” Rajender explained.
Special chief secretary, medical and health Shanta Kumari, in her report pointed out that the number of deaths due to the virus is at a low rate in the State. The average deaths due to Covid-19 at the national level is 3.04 while it is 1.52 in Telangana state, she said.