COVID-19 pandemic in Andhra Pradesh

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COVID-19 pandemic in Andhra pradesh
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationAndhra pradesh, India
First outbreakWuhan, China
Index caseNellore
Arrival date12 March 2020
(4 years and 3 days)
Confirmed casesNegative increase1,518,247 As of 20 May 2021
Active casesNegative increase209,134 As of 20 May 2021
RecoveredIncrease1,299,313 As of 20 May 2021
Deaths
Positive decrease9,800 As of 20 May 2021
Fatality rate0.2%
Government website
hmfw.ap.gov.in

The first case of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh was reported in Nellore on 12 March 2020. A 24-year-old who was confirmed positive for coronavirus. He had travel history to Italy.[1] The Andhra Pradesh Health department has confirmed a total of 5,37,687 cases, including 4,702 deaths and 4,35,467 recoveries, as of 10 September.[2] The virus has spread in 13 districts of the state, of which East Godavari has the highest number of cases.[2][3]

Cases

By districts, Other Countries, Other States

Testing

According to Deccan Herald, Andhra Pradesh has the highest number of COVID-19 tests conducted per million population.[4]

Genetic Epidemiology

Genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in the state suggested that the circulating SARS-CoV-2 in Andhra Pradesh majorly clustered under the clade A2a (20A, 20B and 20C) (94%), whereas 6% fall under the I/A3i clade,[5] a clade previously defined to be present in large numbers in India.[6]

Summary of test results
Samples collected 1,83,42,918
Tested Negative 1,68,21,776
Tested Positive 15,18,247
Percentage Tested Positive 12.08 %
As of 20 May 2021[7]

Containment Strategy

The state has defined its containment cluster in urban areas to encompass 3 km radius, from the location where the COVID-19 positive case is detected. An additional 2 km radius beyond this containment area would be treated as a buffer zone in urban areas, whereas, this buffer radius would extend to 4 km, for the rural areas.[8]

Public Health Strategies

Door to Door survey

On March 10, Andhra state government started a two-day door-to door survey to identify people who had recently traveled to COVID-19 affected countries. This was carried out through a network of ASHA workers, Auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM), village and ward volunteers.[9] Until 19 April, 32,000 people were identified with influenza like symptoms in the process.[10][11]

Risk Communication and Community Engagement

RCCE (Risk Communication and Community Engagement) strategy was adapted with the support of UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund), to reach training and awareness on Covid-appropriate behaviour to 1.06 crore households. A month-long mask campaign #MaaskeKavacham has also been initiated for 95% mask utilisation in urban and rural areas.[12]

Intelligent Monitoring Analysis Services Quarantine (I-MASQ)

The Andhra Pradesh government launched mobile testing centers around the end of May, which operate from government buses converted into testing facilities. These mobile centers have been parked at key areas of public transit such as railway stations and airports. The test samples collected from these centers produce results within 48 hours from collection. The samples are managed by the government health department and the test subjects are required to produce an ID proof and Aadhaar number. If the test subjects are passengers who have been travelling, then they also need to provide their PNR/flight numbers to the health officers there.[13]

Social Distancing Measures

Closure of Public places

  1. The government of Andhra Pradesh began closing its public spaces on March 18 and 19. These included, educational institutions and non-essential commercial places like cinema halls, gyms, malls, and swimming pools.[14]
  2. This was followed by a complete state-wide lock down announced on the March 22. Both of these restrictions were to be followed until the March 31, 2020.[14]
  3. A national 21 day lock-down was imposed by the center starting March 25, 2020.[15]

Quarantine facility

The Health, Medical and Family Welfare department of Andhra Pradesh directed all District collectors to establish quarantine centers at district level with 200 beds and constituency level with 100 beds each.[16] By March 25, all district hospitals in the state were instructed by the Health department of Andhra Pradesh, to set up isolation wards.[17] The state, on 31 March, identified dedicated COVID-19 hospitals- 4 at state and 13 at district level.[14]

Aid Provision

Door to door service for Ration Card Holders

On 25 March 2020, through its village volunteers, the state distributed 1 kg red gram and April's quota of rice, to all its ration card holders.[18] This service was provided door-to door followed by the hand-out of Rs1000 - one time monetary assistance - on 4 April 2020, to these households.[19] This monetary assistance was aimed to provide assistance to around 30 lakh families at a scheme cost of Rs. 1300 crore.[20]

Setup of Special Shelter Centers

On 31 March 2020, all district administration in Andhra Pradesh were directed by the state government to prepare shelter with lodging and boarding services for migrant labors and homeless.[21] These shelters were to be managed by individual 'Nodal Officer', appointed by the District Collector or Municipal Commissioner. The state also mandated Rapid Health checkup of all residents by an Auxiliary Nurse Mid-Wife (ANM) of Primary Health and Surveillance Team.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Coronavirus | First case of COVID-19 reported from Nellore in AP". The Hindu. 12 March 2020. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 13 March 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b "COVID-19 : Andhra Pradesh Department of Health, Medical, & Family Welfare". hmfw.ap.gov.in. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Covid-19 cases spike in Andhra Pradesh, tally past 6146". Business line. 30 April 2020. Archived from the original on 9 May 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  4. ^ "How Andhra Pradesh is conducting the highest number of COVID-19 tests per million population". 24 April 2020.
  5. ^ Rani, Pallavali Roja; Imran, Mohamed; Lakshmi, J. Vijaya; Jolly, Bani; Afsar, S.; Jain, Abhinav; Divakar, Mohit Kumar; Suresh, Panyam; Sharma, Disha; Rajesh, Nambi; Bhoyar, Rahul C. (2021). "Insights from genomes and genetic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 isolates from the state of Andhra Pradesh". Epidemiology & Infection. 149: e181. doi:10.1017/S0950268821001424. ISSN 0950-2688. PMC 8367868.
  6. ^ Banu, Sofia; Jolly, Bani; Mukherjee, Payel; Singh, Priya; Khan, Shagufta; Zaveri, Lamuk; Shambhavi, Sakshi; Gaur, Namami; Reddy, Shashikala; Kaveri, K; Srinivasan, Sivasubramanian (18 September 2020). "A Distinct Phylogenetic Cluster of Indian Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Isolates". Open Forum Infectious Diseases. 7 (11): ofaa434. doi:10.1093/ofid/ofaa434. ISSN 2328-8957. PMC 7543508. PMID 33200080. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  7. ^ "COVID Testings". Archived from the original on 2 November 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  8. ^ "COVID-19: Andhra Pradesh govt identifies 133 'containment clusters' in 11 districts, sounds red alert". The Economic Times. 10 April 2020. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  9. ^ Staff Reporter (10 March 2020). "Andhra Pradesh to begin door-to-door survey on COVID-19 today". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  10. ^ Rao, G. v r Subba (19 April 2020). "Perform tests on people identifiedin the door-to-door survey: CM". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  11. ^ Saikia, Arunabh (17 May 2020). "Several states are going door-to-door to identify Covid-19 patients. Is it a good idea?". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  12. ^ "We are in the process of rebuilding Andhra: CM Jaganmohan Reddy". 8 September 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  13. ^ Bedi, Aneesha (18 June 2020). "Mobile Covid testing takes off in Andhra as Jagan govt plans to add 53 state buses to fleet". ThePrint. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  14. ^ a b c d "Compendium of Instructions, Department of Health, Medical and Family Welfare, Government of Andhra Pradesh" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  15. ^ "India will be under complete lockdown for 21 days: Narendra Modi". The Economic Times. 25 March 2020. Archived from the original on 23 May 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  16. ^ "Government of Andhra Pradesh; Health, Medical and Family Welfare department, COVID instant order number-4" (PDF). 23 March 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  17. ^ "List of hospitals designated for treatment of COVID-19 patients in south India". www.thenewsminute.com. 24 March 2020. Archived from the original on 21 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  18. ^ "Andhra Pradesh govt to distribute ration, cash relief at doorsteps through volunteers". ThePrint. 25 March 2020. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  19. ^ "Andhra Pradesh government distributes free ration to poor amid coronavirus lockdown". The Times of India. 29 March 2020. Archived from the original on 30 March 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  20. ^ "AP CM YS Jagan Fulfills Promise; Govt Begins Rs 1,000 Cash Distribution". Sakshi Post. 4 April 2020. Archived from the original on 28 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  21. ^ "Andhra Pradesh Government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020 - April 14, 2020)". PRSIndia. 14 April 2020. Archived from the original on 29 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.