Amaravati, Jul 5 (IANS): Andhra Pradesh, on Sunday, reported highest ever one day tally of 998 positive cases. The latest update takes the cumulative tally of Covid-19 cases to 18,697, which include cases detected among returnees from other states and foreign countries.

During the 24 hours ending 9 a.m. on Sunday, the state also witnessed its highest single day death toll of 14 deaths.

A comparatively low number of tests were conducted during this period. Health officials said that compared to the 24,962 tests conducted on Saturday, only 20,567 tests were conducted in the preceding 24 hours. Incidentally, the state crossed the one million mark in testing with 10,17,140 tests conducted till Sunday.

Health officials said that 391 persons were cured and discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours, while 10,043 affected persons are currently being treated in hospitals. The cumulative tally of cured persons now stands at 8,422.

The death toll too rose substantially with 14 deaths reported during the past 24 hours from different parts of the state. The highest number of 5 deaths were reported from Kurnool, followed by 3 deaths in Anantapur, and 2 each from Chittoor and Kadapa districts. Krishna and Visakhapatnam districts also reported 1 death each in the last 24 hours. The death toll in Andhra Pradesh on account of covid now stands at 232.

Guntur reported the highest day tally, with 157 cases detected in the district. This was followed by East Godavari with 118, Kurnool with 97 cases, and Srikakulam with 96 cases. Visakhapatnam with 88 cases and Anantapur with 87 cases are the other districts that reported high numbers on Sunday.

Returnees from Telangana figured prominently among positive cases detected in returnees from other states. Of the 36 new cases that were reported in this category, the high of 26 positive cases belonged to Telangana returnees. On a lesser note, 5 of the Covid positive samples belonged to returnees from Karnataka, and 4 cases from Tamil Nadu. Apart from this, 1 case from Maharashtra was also reported.

Till date, 2,179 persons have tested positive for Covid among the persons who returned from other states.

The active cases tally in Andhra Pradesh is 755, while 1,404 persons have been cured till date.

Of the returnees from other countries, the lone new case was reported from a person with travel history to Kuwait. The cumulative tally of covid patients in this category stands at 416, while 190 persons have been discharged after getting cured. As of Sunday, 226 persons in this category are undergoing treatment in hospitals.