12 COVID cases, 4 deaths reported in AP since June 26, but no need to worry, says health official

A dedicated COVID-19 isolation ward has been set up at Visakhapatnam’s King George Hospital. | Photo credit: File Photo

Twelve cases of COVID-19 were reported in Andhra Pradesh between June 26 and July 16, and four patients who had multiple comorbidities died during the period, an official statement issued by the health department said.

According to a statement issued by Health Minister G. Veerapandian on Thursday, all the four patients — three from Kadapa and one from Kakinada — had pre-existing medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease and other serious ailments.

The first case was reported on June 26 in Kadapa district, which also reported the highest of eight cases. There are two cases in Mangalagiri in Guntur district and one each in Visakhapatnam and Kakinada.

Mr. Veerapandian said there was no cluster outbreak and cases were reported from different mandals. Between June 26 and July 15, 67 people in the state were tested for COVID-19.

The report said that since July 1, 339 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in India. The highest number of cases were reported in Kerala (115), followed by Karnataka (64), Maharashtra (43), Tamil Nadu (39), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (18), Delhi (18), Rajasthan (12).

As fears of a rise in infections grow, National Indian Medical Association (IMA) COVID Task Force co-chairman Rajeev Jayadevan says the current situation is nothing to worry about as respiratory viruses, including the coronavirus, spread cyclically and continue to evolve to evade immunity.

In 2022, when the last major surge caused by the Omicron variant was reported, and in 2026, the world saw periodic cyclical viral circulations. This all went on for a few months before dying down. Even the current situation can roll over by the end of August, says a medical expert.

“This is because most people in the country must have had an infection at least once during the three waves of COVID-19, and also because of widespread vaccination, many now have a basic immune system. So when a new variant enters the community, it infects people and dies after circulating for three to four months,” explained Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan who is also the Convener-IM Research Cell of the Kerala.

He says that while the immune memory may not stop the infection, it will prevent the infection from becoming fatal.

He added that the variants that now dominate the world, including BA.3.2 and XFG and NB.1.8.1, are milder in nature. However, people with comorbidities and the elderly remain vulnerable to infection.

While the genome sequencing reports sent from the state to the National Institute of Virology in Pune are yet to come in, the doctor believes that the variant currently dominant in the country and Andhra Pradesh could be one of the above.

Published – 17 Jul 2026 0:12 IST