Karnataka, TN, Andhra pose a new challenge in Covid-19 management

Even as weekly Covid-19 cases dip in Kerala, the other three southern states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh pose a new challenge in Covid management.

The average daily Covid-19 testing numbers have declined sharply in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in the September 1 to 7 week as compared to the August 25 to 31 week. This decline has come at a time when the ministry of health and family welfare had asked the southern states bordering Kerala to maintain a strict vigil on cases and increase Covid-19 testing as it suspected that there could be an increase. The ministry had warned of an increase in cases, especially in districts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu bordering Kerala.

Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, however, have seen a decline in average daily Covid-19 cases during September 1-7 as compared to the August 25-31 week. However, behind this decline is a fall in testing numbers.


Data analysed by ET shows that the weekly tests in the August 25-31 week in Karnataka was 12,12,235, which declined to 10,93,963 in the September 1-7 week. During this period, Covid-19 cases also declined from 8,419 to 7,543 in Karnataka.

Even Andhra Pradesh has shown a similar trend. The number of weekly tests were 4,30,490 in August 25-31 week which declined to 4,08,338 in September 1-7 week. The cases declined from 9,526 to 9,126 respectively. A senior health ministry official told ET, “Testing needs to increase at this time when the states are at a crucial juncture.”

Of the 36 states and union territories, only eight states are reporting over 500 cases daily. These include Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha and Mizoram.

Tamil Nadu is posing a different challenge in Covid-19 management. While the state’s testing numbers have increased unlike Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu is reporting an increase in weekly cases. The cases have gone up from 10,798 in August 25-31 week to 10,906 in September 1-7 week. This means the state is reporting 1,558 average daily cases, up from 1,543 in the last week of August. “Tamil Nadu is now the only state which is showing an increase in weekly Covid-19 cases due to an increase in daily testing numbers. Kerala has also declined,” the official said.

Kerala’s average daily cases in September 1-7 week is 28,009, which is down from 29,321 August 25-August 31 week. The tests have only increased in the state. The daily average of tests is 159,697 now, which is up from 156,986 in August 25-31 week.