38 new coronavirus cases reported in Andhra tally rises to 149

Amaravati, Apr 2 (PTI): Coronavirus positive cases continued to maintain an upward curve in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday with a total of 38 additions in the last 24 hours, taking the aggregate in the state to 149.

With just two of the patients shown by the government as recovered, the number of 'active' cases remains at 147. All the fresh cases too were related to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in New Delhi, from where COVID-19 has been fast spreading.

SPS Nellore district saw a significant jump in the number of cases as 21 were reported overnight. The district now has an overall 24 coronavirus positive cases, topping the state list.

Incidentally, the first coronavirus case in AP was reported from Nellore on March 12 when a foreign returnee tested positive but he has since recovered fully. Krishna district came second with 23 cases. In all 123 samples were tested since Thursday morning, of which 11 tested positive and the rest negative, according to the latest bulletin.

"About 16 per cent of those who attended the Jamaat event tested positive in the state," the state nodal officer for COVID-19 Arja Srikanth said.

Efforts were on to trace the remaining persons in all districts and conduct required tests, he added. A gross number of 1,873 samples were tested in the state since early March and 1,321 tested negative.