Hyderabad, Aug 9 (PTI) Against the backdrop of a fire at a COVID-19 care centre in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh on Sunday, health authorities in Telangana have asked all hospitals/COVID-19 care centres to strictly follow fire safety norms.

In a letter sent to the hospitals and the virus care centres, director of Public Health Srinivasa Rao said many private hospitals are utilising hotels as COVID-19 care centres where patients with mild symptoms are kept in isolation.

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He referred to the fire in a hotel turned into a COVID-19 care centre in Vijayawada where 10 people lost their lives.

"In view of this, as mandated all hospitals/COVID-19 care centres are instructed to follow fire safety norms. Any violation will be viewed seriously, the letter said.

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There are 36 hotels, which arefunctioning as COVID-19 care centres, attached to various hospitals in the state, official sources said.

As many as 10 patients died at a star hotel converted into a coronavirus treatment centre in Vijayawada when panic-stricken inmates tried to flee from a fire suspected to have been caused by an electrical short circuit.

A copy of the letter from the director of Public Health was sent to all district Collectors, state Fire Services Department and other officials.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)