Hyderabad: Although the official tally of Covid-19 cases in Telangana remained at one until Tuesday, private hospitals and diagnostic centres across the state reported seeing cases of people with Covid symptoms, most of which were mild and subtle.However, doctors have noted that these symptoms could co-exist with those of seasonal diseases due to the early arrival of the monsoon.Dr Sushma Rani Sangam, chief of medical services at Aster Prime Hospital in Ameerpet, said people are coming with flu-like symptoms such as cough, cold, fever and breathing difficulties. “We are seeing around 20–25 such cases in the outpatient department. But it is a time of seasonal change, so these numbers and symptoms are likely to be mixed up with that. A clearer picture of this strain (JN.1 virus) will emerge after the second cycle, or within the next five to seven days. As of now, it is in the mild to moderate category.”Dr G Krishna Mohan Reddy, a consultant physician and diabetologist at Yashoda Hospital in Malakpet, noted that the symptoms are less aggressive than during the previous wave of the pandemic. “We are seeing patients with mild symptoms in our outpatient departments. However, people with co-existing health issues (comorbidities) due to underlying chronic ailments such as diabetes, hypertension and asthma need to be more cautious than others.“As a precautionary measure, many hospitals have upgraded their medical infrastructure. This includes separate entrances and exits for suspected cases, isolation wards, an adequate supply of oxygen cylinders, proper guidelines to the staff, and more. “We have also created a triage system from the emergency room to the ICU or room admission to avoid any delays, as well as a dedicated screening zone for Covid-19,” said Dr Sangam.However, some hospitals, such as AIG Gachibowli and KIMS, have decided to monitor the situation before making further arrangements. “We held a review meeting on Monday where it was decided that, as there is currently no severity and no cases have been reported in our hospital, we will wait a week or around 10 days to further observe the situation,” said a source from AIG.Meanwhile, speaking to TOI, B Ravinder Nayak urged people not to panic. Noting the nationwide surge in cases, he said: “Even the cases seen at present have mild symptoms, as the virus is now largely endemic with many mutations. These symptoms could also be due to pre-monsoon conditions. In Telangana, we have adequate infrastructure available in our public health centres (PHCs), hospitals and other medical institutions. There are 34 govt district diagnostic centres in Telangana, all of which are active throughout the year. All private hospitals are also coordinating and regularly submitting data.”Nayak also pointed out that the govt of India has not yet released any guidelines. He also stressed that people with comorbidities need to be especially vigilant. “While everyone should generally stay alert and maintain proper sanitation, those with two or more diseases or medical conditions at the same time or in succession need to be more careful. These coexisting conditions can affect a person’s overall health, treatment outcomes and daily life.“
