<span style="color: #222222;">The total number of Omicron cases in Andhra Pradesh has increased to 28, as four more people have tested positive for the new variant of COVID 19. AP Public Health Director Dr. G. Hymavathy said that all the contacts of these cases have been traced and tested. Positive samples have been sent for genome sequencing.</span><br />''<br />''Omicron cases have been reported from Krishna, East and West Godavari, Guntur, Prakasham and Vizianagaram Districts in Andhra Pradesh. Medical experts say that indications are strong that the AP State is heading for a third wave. Meanwhile, as per sources, 19 students and a teacher of a ZP High School at Kothavalasa in Vizianagaram District tested positive for Covid-19. All of them are asymptomatic and they are under home isolation now. <br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">As the Omicron is said to be highly transmissible than the earlier variants and doubling the cases in just a few days, an unprecedented increase in the case numbers is anticipated. A.P. Govt. has lined up 707 hospitals  with about 50,000 beds for the third wave. The State also has significantly ramped up oxygen infrastructure at hospitals. Medical experts caution the public to follow Covid-19 appropriate behaviour without fail.</span><br />