VIJAYAWADA: Covid-19 situation in the rural and suburban areas surrounding the city is alarming when compared to other areas. Positivity rate is increasing significantly in rural areas after Sankranti celebrations and the health wing authorities have deployed special teams and sample collection points to intensify tests there.
Penamaluru mandal in the district registered 35 per cent positivity rate after Sankranti. Areas like Kanuru, Poranki, and Tadigadapa on the outskirts of Vijayawada city fall under Penamaluru mandal which has a population of 2.5 lakh. Officials tested 500 samples from this area recently, of which 210 tested positive. Many people in this area are moving to Vijayawada for testing.
