Birthdays in Hyderabad turn sour again; COVID takes life of many

On different occasions, various people in the city have attended birthday parties and have died of coronavirus. On Saturday, attendees of the party have formed queues at private labs to get themselves tested and this created panic in the city.

A jewellery shop owner threw a birthday bash in the city which was attended by more than 100 people and the birthday boy himself died of COVID, leaving the attendees in panic. A top jewellery owner in the city, who owns a jewellery chain was one of the attendees and he too has died of coronavirus. It is expected that he might have contracted the virus from the host. At least 100 members of the jewellers association attended the party recently. Now, the health officials have started the process of contract tracing.

Well, another similar case has happened. A police constable who distributed sweets after the birth of a son also tested positive on Saturday—as did the 12 recipients of the sweets.

Health Minister Etela Rajendar said he was frustrated. “This is happening only because people are not following the basic rules. Families are hosting birthday parties, organising engagement functions, or getting together at homes to celebrate a new birth. This is unacceptable,” he said.