The Anantapur District Administration made all arrangements on Friday to deal with any eventuality that could arise in the coming days. The district had the highest COVID-19 record ever of 1,882, the third highest in the state after Guntur and Chittoor.
The district had recorded 1,536 cases on Thursday and 1,291 cases on Wednesday.
In the Kurnool district, the number of positive cases remained below 1,000. The district recorded 967 cases in the 24 hours through Friday morning.
The death toll reached 661 in Anantapur district, with five more succumbing to the virus on Friday. Seven deaths were reported on Thursday and Wednesday. In Kurnool District, the cumulative toll remained at 548, including four that were registered on Friday.
District collector Gandham Chandrudu and joint collector A. Siri appealed to elected officials to actively participate in COVID-19 mitigation activities and inspire staff.
“We can fight the virus in cooperation with everyone, including the elected officials,” said the district collector in a conference call with the mayor, city chairmen and municipal commissioners of all ULBs.
The common collector Revenue visited the COVID-19 stations in the GGH and a COVID care center in the Polytechnic College.
In the meantime, a new wing with beds equipped with oxygen was being prepared in the cancer hospital.
Following a complaint filed by Anantapur Urban MLA Anantha Venkatarami Reddy, the parking lots of the GGH and the Super Specialty Hospital were relocated from the hospital grounds. Tents were set up there for the benefit of the relatives of COVID-19 patients.