Andhra Pradesh logs 12 Covid cases, four deaths in a month; no signs of wider spread

Andhra Pradesh has recorded 12 Covid-19 infections and four deaths between June 26 and July 16 this year, with health authorities maintaining that the cases are isolated and do not indicate a wider outbreak in the state.

State Health Commissioner G Veerapandian said on Thursday that the infections have emerged from different parts of Andhra Pradesh without any epidemiological link, suggesting there is no evidence of a localised cluster.

"The state reported 12 Covid-19 infections between June 26 and July 16. Four of those patients succumbed to the illness, and all had severe comorbidities," he said in an official statement.

According to the Health Department, all four deceased patients had significant underlying medical conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, kidney-related ailments and other health complications, which increased their vulnerability to severe illness.

The state's first Covid-19 case of 2026 was identified in Kadapa district on June 26, while the remaining 11 infections were reported between July 1 and July 16.

District-wise data showed Kadapa accounting for the largest share of infections with eight cases. Guntur reported two cases, while Visakhapatnam and Kakinada registered one case each.

Officials said the patients were detected in different mandals across the state, reinforcing the assessment that the infections were sporadic rather than concentrated in a single area.

Between June 26 and July 15, the Health Department carried out 67 Covid-19 tests across Andhra Pradesh. Of the 12 positive cases, 11 were confirmed within the state, while one patient tested positive at Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, in neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

Among those infected, three patients are currently recovering under home isolation, two are undergoing treatment in hospitals, and three have been discharged after recovering from the infection.

The Health Department said surveillance measures remain in place and advised people, particularly senior citizens and individuals with existing medical conditions, to remain vigilant and seek prompt medical care if Covid-like symptoms develop.

Sharing the broader national situation, Veerapandian said India reported 339 Covid-19 cases between July 1 and July 16. Kerala accounted for the highest number with 115 infections, followed by Karnataka (64), Maharashtra (43), Tamil Nadu (39), Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Delhi (18 each), Rajasthan (12), and several other states reporting smaller caseloads. Health authorities said monitoring and surveillance would continue to contain any further spread of infections.

(With PTI inputs)