Are you fudging coronavirus death figures? HC to Telangana

HYDERABAD: Telangana HC on Monday asked state government as to how Covid-19 death toll had remained constant at 10 per day in the past six months despite manifold increase in testing and more number of positive cases reported all over the state in the same period. It asked the government to provide a comparative data of Covid-19 in other states by November 16.
A bench of Chief Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan and Justice B Vijaysen Reddy was hearing a batch of PILs on Covid-19 tests, treatment and health infrastructure in the state and grilled both advocate general BS Prasad and public health director Dr G Srinivasa Rao. The judges directed the government to collect data pertaining to Covid-19 tests, treatment and deaths in Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Delhi during the same period and juxtapose those figures with that of Telangana’s figures and provide a comparative picture by November 16. “This will clearly show how death figures are fudged here,” the judges said.
“You (government) will then wonder whether lord Yama Dharma has issued a stay order on deaths here,” the judges said in a sarcastic tone. The judges were also critical towards government when Kowturu Pavan Kumar, representing one of the petitioners, told the state was causing a double jeopardy by diverting health staff for uploading property details on Dharani website. “The crowds at Dharani activity is one danger and reduced health staff is another,” he said. At this, the judges directed the government not to divert health staff for non-health duties. Kruthi Kalaga, another counsel, urged the judges to direct the government to increase availability of non-invasive mechanical ventilation equipment at Covid-19 hospitals to help those struggling with breathlessness. Judges directed the health authorities to increase the number of helpline phone facilities.
Taking note of the points raised by another counsel Qazi Salar Masood Aatif, judges asked government to explain why Telangana has only 62 Covid designated hospitals when neighbouring AP has 581 and Tamil Nadu has 1,259. They did not agree with the argument of Dr Srinivasa Rao that they were unable to get people for testing on holidays, leading to a dip in tests on certain days, and directed him to ensure more number of tests on all days. Responding to another plea by counsel Chikkudu Prabhakar, they asked the government to submit disaster management plans at state and district levels. Prasad said the government had increased the testing and strengthened the infrastructure. The case was adjourned to November 19.