Epidemiological trends of COVID-19 pandemic during first and second waves: A comparative study in east Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India

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Original Article

Author Details : D Satyanarayana Murty*, BV Suresh Babu, A Durga Rani, G Rajyalakshmi

Volume : 9, Issue : 3, Year : 2023

Article Page : 177-181

https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijmmtd.2023.034

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Abstract

Introduction: From Wuhan, China, the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARSCoV-2) infection that caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread quickly to other countries. India experienced its first wave of COVID-19 infection between March 2020 to February 2021 with the peak in August 2020.The second wave started in March 2021 and continued for few months till November 2021.
Aim: This study has been conducted to describe the epidemiological trends based on laboratory data at East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Materials and Methods: The study was performed between March 2020 to November 2021at a tertiary care centre in East Godavari Dist., AP. Samples (Throat/Nasal/Nasopharyngeal swabs) were received from the Government hospitals in East Godavari district for Covid-19 Real time PCR. 
Results: A total number of 5,00,869 and 8,75,808 samples were tested using rRT-PCR, and 39,626 (7.9%) and 98,656 (11.2%) were positive during first and second waves respectively. In the first wave the highest positivity rate was observed in the month of August (26.8%) whereas in Second Wave it was observed in the month of May (36.6%). In the both the waves highest positivity was observed in the age group 70-79 years (first wave 11.1% and second wave 16.3%). In both the waves the positivity rate of males was higher than females. Among symptomatic cases, the positivity rate was in the first wave 8.6% whereas in second 19.1% was observed.
Conclusion: The overall, higher positivity rate was observed in the second wave when compared to first wave. Also we observed a noticeable difference between the 1st and 2nd waves in terms of positivity percentage among symptomatic cases..
 

Keywords : Covid­19, SARS­CoV2, Epidemiology, RT PCR Testing

How to cite : Murty D S, Babu B S, Rani A D, Rajyalakshmi G, Epidemiological trends of COVID-19 pandemic during first and second waves: A comparative study in east Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India. IP Int J Med Microbiol Trop Dis 2023;9(3):177-181

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