Hyderabad’s testing fails scaring away Andhrites?

With rumors spreading around that Telangana is set to go into lockdown for 15 days, all the people from Andhra Pradesh are hurrying back to their hometowns in Andhra Pradesh, from Hyderabad. While these people claim that they are getting back so as to not be stuck in the city during lockdown, there seems to be a more serious reason behind this.

A few months ago, when the nationwide lockdown was first imposed, everyone chose to stay back in Hyderabad, even though there was no clarity over when the lockdown would be lifted. However, despite no confirmation over the current speculations of a 15-day lockdown, people are flying back to Andhra as soon as they can. Sources say that this is because the number of Coronavirus cases in Hyderabad are multiplying every single day, and because the situation is not being handled well in the city.

Telangana leaders are not responding well, with Health Minister Eetala Rajender Reddy making controversial comments on a patient’s video from Chest Hospital. The Minister also didn’t respond well when he was asked why all the ministers and legislative members who tested positive are going to private hospitals instead of government hospitals. Eatala Rajender Reddy said that this was because the ministers chose to go where their family doctors were based.

Soon several doubts were expressed over the Minister’s statement. Eetala Rajender Reddy previously said that all government hospitals were equipped with everything that is necessary to combat the virus, and that anyone could go there without a second thought. With the admission of all the ministers who tested positive into private hospitals, the common public is starting to doubt the facilities in government hospitals.

On the other hand, the testing situation in Hyderabad is the worst, to say the least. Proper test centers haven’t been established, and even those that have been established are now closed due to reasons unknown. The people of Hyderabad are waiting in lines in front of private laboratories to get tested, and at hefty prices. The worst part is that there are huge possibilities that one could come in contact with the virus when standing in line, and get back home with the virus. With enough tests not being done in the city, and with the government being very reckless about the situation, concerns of safety in Hyderabad are growing rapidly.

Andhra Pradesh is at least testing a considerable amount of samples in a day, and is being somewhat transparent about the situation. This seems to have instilled a sense of better safety in everyone, with respect to preferring to stay in Andhra Pradesh, rather than in Hyderabad.