Published Jul 13, 2026 | 12:38 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 13, 2026 | 12:38 AM
Synopsis: The Andhra Pradesh government has issued a statewide COVID-19 preparedness alert after two people who later tested positive for the virus died in Kadapa and Annamayya districts within 10 days of each other. Authorities have directed districts to strengthen surveillance, testing, hospital preparedness, genomic surveillance and public awareness, while asking hospitals to keep isolation wards and essential supplies ready.
The Andhra Pradesh government has issued a statewide COVID-19 preparedness alert after two people who later tested positive for the virus died within 10 days in Kadapa and Annamayya districts, prompting authorities to strengthen surveillance, testing, hospital preparedness and reporting systems across the state.
The State Surveillance Unit (SSU) under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) has instructed all District Medical and Health Officers (DM&HOs), District Surveillance Officers (DSOs), government hospitals and medical colleges to remain on alert and immediately step up preparedness against any rise in infections.
“In view of the increasing reports of COVID-19 cases in certain parts of the country and to ensure preparedness for any potential rise in cases, all District Medical & Health Officers (DM&HOs), District Surveillance Officers (DSOs), Superintendents of Government General Hospitals, Principals of Government Medical Colleges, and all concerned officials are instructed to remain vigilant and strengthen COVID-19 surveillance and response activities,” the State Surveillance Officer (IDSP) said in an order issued on 10 July.
The alert comes after eight active COVID-19 cases were detected following the deaths of two patients, one each from Kadapa and Annamayya districts. Health officials said all eight patients are asymptomatic, clinically stable and recovering under home isolation.
Along with issuing the alert, the Health Department has instructed all Government General Hospitals to earmark dedicated 10-bed isolation wards and ensure adequate medical supplies.
Hospitals have been directed to keep RT-PCR testing kits, Remdesivir, personal protective equipment (PPE), N95 masks and other essential supplies readily available.
The official sought to reassure the public that the current situation does not warrant panic.
The advisory also outlines a series of measures to be implemented immediately across all districts.
The State Surveillance Officer directed authorities to “strengthen surveillance for Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) cases in all public and private health facilities.”
District officials have also been instructed to “ensure prompt collection and testing of samples from eligible ILI/SARI cases as per the prevailing Government of India guidelines” and “report all laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases through the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) and other designated reporting portals without delay.”
The order further asks districts to intensify monitoring of respiratory illness clusters, investigate unusual increases in cases and ensure adequate availability of RT-PCR facilities, viral transport media (VTM), oxygen, PPE, masks, disinfectants and essential medicines.
Health facilities have also been directed to “verify the preparedness of isolation wards, oxygen-supported beds, intensive care units, ventilator support and referral mechanisms in all healthcare facilities.”
To reduce transmission risks, the government has instructed hospitals to “reinforce infection prevention and control (IPC) practices, including hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, environmental cleaning, and the appropriate use of personal protective equipment by healthcare workers.”
The advisory also mandates genomic surveillance wherever necessary.
“Ensure timely transportation of COVID-19 positive samples, wherever indicated, to designated laboratories for genomic surveillance as per Government of India guidelines,” the order said.
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The statewide advisory follows the deaths of two patients who later tested positive for COVID-19.
One of them, a 43-year-old man from Kadapa district, had no recent travel history except visits to nearby villages.
Kadapa District Medical and Health Officer Ravi Babu said the patient was admitted to the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Kadapa, with bilateral pneumonia, fever and breathlessness.
As his condition failed to improve after five days of treatment, doctors conducted a COVID-19 test as per the protocol for patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
He died on 7 July.
Health authorities traced 28 contacts of the patient and tested them. Eight people across the affected districts were found to be COVID-19 positive. Officials said all of them remain asymptomatic and are under home isolation.
The second patient, a 52-year-old man from Rajampeta in Annamayya district, had been admitted to Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, with a lung infection and bilateral kidney disease. He was also diabetic and hypertensive. He died on 28 June and subsequently tested positive for COVID-19.
Health officials said neither patient had any recent travel history other than visits to nearby villages.
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Following the two deaths, the Health Department constituted a Rapid Response Team to investigate the cases and established a COVID-19 control room to coordinate surveillance and response activities.
Officials are awaiting genome sequencing reports to determine the variant responsible for the infections.
Meanwhile, the government has instructed districts to strengthen public awareness without creating unnecessary fear.
The order directs officials to “disseminate public health messages promoting respiratory hygiene, hand hygiene, and early reporting of symptoms, while avoiding unnecessary panic.”
It further instructs that “any unusual increase in COVID-19 cases, clusters, hospitalisations, or deaths shall be reported immediately to the State Surveillance Unit, IDSP, Andhra Pradesh, without waiting for the routine reporting schedule.”
Emphasising continued vigilance, the State Surveillance Officer concluded that “all districts shall ensure strict compliance with the above instructions and maintain a state of readiness to respond promptly to any public health event related to COVID-19.”
