The Andhra Pradesh government has converted several major temples in the state into Covid Care Centres (CCCs) to accommodate the infected patients. The Endowments Department has completed arrangements in major temples like Annavaram, Dwaraka Tirumala, Vijayawada, Kanipakam, Srikalahasthi, Srikakulam, Mahanandi, Simhachalam, Srisailam and Pedakakani, Andhra Pradesh Digital Corporation (APDC), said in a tweet. Sixteen major temples will have 1,000 beds while smaller temples will have 25 beds. Primary medicare will be provided under the supervision of doctors, the APDC said. The government has already opened 115 CCCs in all the 13 districts of the state with a bed capacity of 52,471. As on May 16, a total of 17,417 Covid-infected people were lodged in the CCCs and 35,054 beds were vacant, according to the health department.
MLC polls in Andhra, Telangana deferred
The Election Commission of India (EC) postponed polls to nine legislative council seats in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana scheduled this month due to the surge in Covid-19 cases. In a statement, the EC said it reviewed the matter and decided that due to the outbreak of the second wave of Covid-19 in the country, it would be inappropriate to hold the election until the pandemic situation significantly improves and conditions become conducive to hold the polls. “The Commission will take a decision in the matter at an appropriate time in the future after taking inputs from the concerned states and assessing the pandemic situation from mandated authorities like National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA),” the statement said. It added the terms of three members of Andhra Pradesh and six that of Telangana state legislative councils would expire on May 31 and June 3.
