Hyderabad is becoming a hotbed of the coronavirus spread in Telangana. Out of the new cases, 95% are reported solely from Hyderabad, especially from four places in the Old City, said Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao. Now if authorities are to be believed, the spike on Covid-19 cases could be linked to a birthday party and an engagement function held recently in the city.
Three days ago, twentyeight people, including three children, tested positive for Covid-19 in one apartment at Madannapet in Hyderabad. A total number of 55 samples were collected and tested, out of which 28 were found positive, while the remaining people have been quarantined. An 11-month-old baby is the youngest among the three children in the lot.
After the inquiry, it was revealed that these people had participated in the birthday celebrations of a software engineer. The raising concerns insisted GHMC declare Madannapet as a containment zone. Rachakonda Police Commissioner Mahesh Bhagawat told The Daily Guardian, “The police are doing their best to enforce social distancing and anybody who’s seen violating the guidelines faces serious repercussions from the police.”
In another incident, an engagement function was held in the Doolpet area of Hyderabad on 10 May, and 16 out of 22 members of the family tested positive. The family was unaware of the infection until one of their members died suddenly. The family had alleged that the deceased had cardiological complications, and the death might have resulted from a cardiac arrest. However, the Covid-19 test was conducted on the dead body and it revealed that the 58-year-old man was infected with the virus.
A day before the death in the family, they held an engagement ceremony at their residence. The bride was the granddaughter of the deceased. The son of the deceased, a bank employee, was the first to contract the disease from a friend he met, who later tested positive, said the police. Police further told The Daily Guardian that even on the day of the engagement ceremony that took place on 10 May, the bride was unwell.
The family has been shifted to Gandhi Hospital for treatment. Authorities have started mass-tracing wherein they are looking for people who participated in both the gatherings. “It is not about religious gatherings only, functions like these also put people’s lives at risk,” Telangana CM said.