Hyderabad, Jun 16 (IANS): The number of Covid-19 cases in Telangana crossed 5,000 mark as the state registered 219 new cases on Monday.

The new cases pushed the tally to 5,193, making Telangana the 14th state in the country to cross 5,000 mark.

For a third consecutive day, the state reported over 200 cases. Greater Hyderabad, the Covid-19 hotspot, alone accounted for 189 cases.

The state also reported two deaths on Monday, raising the death toll to 187.

According to the director of public health and family welfare, 2,766 patients have so far recovered. The number of active cases stands at 2,240.

Meanwhile, another employee at the Telangana Secretariat tested positive on Monday. Sources said the employee in the Finance Department was found infected by the virus. He is the third employee in the department and fourth overall to test positive.

A woman employee in the Information Technology Department had tested positive on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the state Health Department and other departments were geared up to conduct 50,000 COVID-19 tests in Greater Hyderabad and surrounding districts.

Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar said the tests would be conducted from Tuesday. The process will continue over next one week to 10 days.

The government on Sunday decided to conduct the tests in 30 Assembly constituencies in and around Hyderabad.

The Chief Secretary said the tests were aimed at creating confidence among people in view of the misinformation being spread by some people that adequate number of tests is not being conducted and this led to the spread of the virus.