Hyderabad, May 20 (IANS): Two more persons died of Covid-19 in Telangana on Wednesday, taking the death toll to 40, officials said.

The state has reported fatalities for the second day in a row. The authorities had declared four deaths on Tuesday.

The Health Department, however, has not come out with the details of the deceased.

The number of Covid-19 cases in the state rose to 1,661 with 27 persons testing positive. According to the Director of public health and family welfare, 15 of these cases were reported in Greater Hyderabad.

Twelve migrants were also found infected, taking to 89 the total number of migrants tested positive so far.

Two persons were discharged from hospital. With this the number of recoveries rose to 1,013. The number of active cases now stands at 608.

Meanwhile, with the relaxations in the lockdown, Hyderabad and other towns continued to see hectic activity for a second day.

More shops were opened in the state capital. However, confusion prevailed at several places due to implementation of odd-even system. Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) allotted odd and even numbers to shops to ensure that two adjacent shops don't remain open on the same day. This was done to ensure social distancing.

Shop owners at some places complained about lack of effective implementation of the system. This system is in force only in Hyderabad, as it accounts for the majority of Covid-19 cases. The authorities have allowed re-opening of all shops in other towns.

Though government and private offices were allowed to function with 100 per cent attendance, many offices reported less than 50 per cent attendance. The Covid scare is still keeping many employees away from work places.

The attendance has also not improved in the information technology companies with an overwhelming majority of employees is still preferring to work from home.

With 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew still in force, employees and workers were seen leaving their offices much before 6 p.m. to reach their homes. Many shopkeepers too downed their shutters at 5 p.m.

Authorities are not allowing any activity in containment zones. The state government has declared the entire state barring the containment areas as the green zone.