Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to an official note from the Chief Secretary on Monday evening. The news comes as the state’s COVID-19 cases are rapidly increasing. 

The Chief Secretary said that the Chief Minister has mild symptoms and has been isolated in his farmhouse in Erravali. A team of doctors are currently monitoring KCR’s health. 

Telangana reported 4,009 new Covid-19cases and 14 deaths from 8 pm on April 17 to 8 pm pn April 18. The number of cases dropped from 5,093 as the authorities conducted fewer tests over the week-end.

During the 24-hour period that ended on April 18, 8 p.m, 83,089 tests were conducted while 1,29,637 samples were tested the previous day.

The fresh cases pushed the state's cumulative tally to 3,55,433 while 14 deaths have taken the fatality toll to 1,838.

According to a bulletin by the state health department, the case fatality remained at 0.51 percent against the national average of 1.2 per cent.

Almost all parts of the state continue to see a surge in the cases. Greater Hyderabad and surrounding districts remained the worst affected along with the districts bordering Maharashtra.

The state capital reported 705 new cases. Medchal Malkajgiri and Rangareddy district adjoining Hyderabad reported 363 and 336 cases respectively.

As many as 13 out of total 33 districts in the state added more than 100 cases during the last 24-hours. Nizamabad district bordering Maharashtra saw 360 new cases followed by 264 in Sangareddy, 175 in Jagtial, 146 in Warangal Urban, 135 in Karimnagar, 129 in Mahaboobnagar, 125 in Siddipet and 115 in Kamareddy.

The number of active cases in the state also jumped to 39,154 from 37,0137 the previous day. Of the total number of active cases, 39,154 are in home/institutional isolation.