No evidence of highly virulent COVID-19 variant in T.N., says Health department
Tamil Nadu's Health Department has clarified that there is no evidence of a highly virulent COVID-19 variant circulating in the state. Officials noted that recent deaths in neighboring Andhra Pradesh were linked to comorbidities rather than a new outbreak.
Why it matters
Public health communication is critical for preventing panic and maintaining accurate surveillance of infectious diseases.
Amid reports of COVID-19 related deaths in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu’s Health Department has said there is no evidence that a highly virulent COVID-19 variant is circulating in Tamil Nadu and COVID-19 infections are currently lower than in the previous years.
In a press release issued on Monday (July 13, 2026), the Directorate of Public Health (DPH) and Preventive Medicine said that recently, newspapers reported that two persons died due to COVID-19 infection in Andhra Pradesh. Giving details about the cases, it said that a 52-year-old man from Andhra Pradesh was shifted from a private hospital in Tirupati to a private hospital in Vellore on June 26 for specialised care. He had Klebsiella pneumoniae bacterial infection and COVID-19 infection. He also had co-morbid conditions of diabetes and chronic kidney disease. He died on June 28 due to complications caused by severe Klebsiella pneumoniae infection and acute respiratory distress syndrome.
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