Andhra Pradesh has recorded two COVID-19-related deaths the first deaths associated with the virus in nearly four years.
This comes at a time when new infections are increasing in the state and health officials are increasing surveillance and telling the public to be cautious about it.
According to state health officials, the two deceased patients were elderly with underlying health conditions. COVID-19 was confirmed as a contributing factor, officials said, but both patients had preexisting medical problems which had made them more vulnerable to severe illness.
The recent deaths have also brought attention to increasing COVID-19 cases in Andhra Pradesh. The number of active infections is far less than in the past waves and health professionals say the rise in incidence is a reminder that the virus is still circulating.
The Andhra Pradesh Health Department has intensified monitoring at hospitals and healthcare centres.
The government takes regular checks for symptomatic patients, keeps track of new infections and makes sure there is sufficient medical infrastructure - oxygen supplies, isolation facilities - in place if needed.
Health experts have advised vulnerable groups senior citizens, pregnant women, people with chronic diseases and those with weakened immune systems to take extra precautions.
When it comes to masks, especially in crowded indoor spaces, good hand hygiene and avoiding unnecessary exposure during illness are some of the key advice.
And people of high risk have also been told to receive COVID-19 booster doses. Vaccination is still a great protection against severe disease, hospitalization and death even as new variants appear.
Medical professionals believe this increase in infections is mostly driven by seasonal transmission patterns and the spread of new virus variants.
But they say there is presently no indication of a large-scale outbreak that will lead to the magnitude of the terrible outbreak in 2020 and 2021.
The public need not panic but should stay alert and be vigilant. Those with mild symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, or breathing difficulties have to immediately seek medical attention and avoid close contact with others until they are well or if they have been diagnosed and treated.
So the state government is closely collaborating with national health agencies. Surveillance teams are mapping out the trends and making sure district health officials have the ability to respond quickly if infections continue to rise.
Public health experts say India’s huge vaccination coverage and improved healthcare preparedness have put the country in a much stronger position than during the early years of the pandemic.
But complacency should not happen, especially in times of rising respiratory infections.
COVID-19 is not going away but the two deaths so far are a reminder.
Public awareness, timely medical care, vaccination, and adherence to standard preventive measures will be key to preventing the spread of the virus and the protection of vulnerable groups in Andhra Pradesh.
