Karnataka reports 2 more COVID deaths, 15 new cases

With the Karnataka government ruling out community transmission in the state, two fresh COVID-19 deaths and 15 new positive cases were reported from the state on Monday. The government also said there was an increase in the number of people recovering from the coronavirus infection in recent days and the number has now reached 60.

Bengaluru: Karnataka reported two fresh COVID-19 deaths and 15 positive cases on Monday, taking the toll to eight and the total number of infected to 247, but the government ruled out community transmission in the state.

The government also said there was an increase in the number of people recovering from the coronavirus infection in recent days and the number has now reached 60.

Voicing concern over the COVID-19 situation leading to a deep financial trouble in the state, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said there was a need to find ways to overcome the crisis. He announced certain measures aimed at resource mobilisation.

The deceased include a 55-year-old man, who died in Kalaburagi district, while a 65-year old man succumbed at a hospital in Bengaluru, official sources said, adding with the fresh casualties the death toll in the state reached eight.

One of the deceased had tested positive for COVID-19 on April 10, and officials have said he also had a history of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI).

The Kalaburagi man was the district's third COVID-19 casualty. The district had also reported the country's first COVID-19 fatality.

The Bengaluru man was admitted to the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases on Sunday after he tested positive for COVID-19 and died on Monday.

With Monday's figures, cumulatively 247 COVID-19 positive cases had been confirmed in the state: including eight deaths and 60 discharges.

The active COVID-19 cases stood at 181 with 177 patients, including one pregnant woman, in isolation wards at designated hospitals and stable while four others in the intensive care units, a health department bulletin said.

"In the last five days, our growth rate of cases is 6.42 per cent, we stand at 11th place (in the country in terms of the number of cases)," Primary and Secondary Education Minister Suresh Kumar told a media briefing.

Pointing out that the number of discharges after treatment has seen a steady increase in the last few days, he said, "In the last four days itself 30 people have been discharged after recovery. I'm happy to see this."

On the source of infection in a few cases not being known yet, he said, "Efforts were on to find it out. But he ruled out any possibility of community infection in the state. We have not reached that stage."

He said, according to statistics the government has, Karnataka's rate of positive cases is 2.5 per cent, while Kerala is 2.63 per cent, Rajasthan is 2.82 per cent, Maharashtra is 5.53 per cent, Delhi is 9.13 per cent and Tamil Nadu is 11.52 per cent.

Among the 15 new cases in the state, 13 are contacts of patients already tested positive, while one from Dodabballapura in Bengaluru Rural is with a travel history to Delhi, the other from Bengaluru city has Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI).

Among the 13 contact cases tested positive four are from Hubballi in Dharwad district, three each from Malavalli in Mandya district and Raibag in Belagavi district, two each from Bidar, and one from Mudhol in Bagalkote district.

Contact-tracing had been initiated and was in progress for all the cases, the department said.

Nine out of total 247 cases detected and confirmed in Karnataka so far are transit passengers of Kerala being treated in the state.

Most number of infections have been reported in Bengaluru with 77, followed by Mysuru (48) and Belagavi (17).Among the dead, two are from Kalaburagi and one each from Bengaluru, Bagalkote, Gadag and Tumakuru.

A total of 10,017 samples have been collected for testing so far, out of which 766 were collected on Monday alone. So far 9,572 samples have reported as negative and out of them 741 reported negative on Monday.

Suresh Kumar said the rapid testing kits supposed to arrive in Karnataka from China have been delayed.

"It was expected today, but due to change of some regulations by the Chinese government regarding exports, it is delayed. We may get in a week's time,"he said.

Responding to a question on Tablighi Jamaat cases, Kumar said, so far 1,330 samples have been tested, out of this 40 were positive, 1,252 negative.

Asked whether the government was planning to divide the state into red, orange and green zones to enforce lockdown based on the gravity of the situation during the next two weeks, he said, "We are working at it, we will let you know."

Yediyurappa, who held a meeting here on resource mobilisation, said the government was awaiting guidelines from the Centre regarding the implementation of lockdown during the next two weeks, and noted that discussions were on regarding relaxations on the sale of liquor and the decision will be taken after April 14.

The decisions taken at the meeting included speeding up the disposal of cases related to regularisation of unauthorised constructions which are pending before courts, auctioning more than 12,000 corner sites lying idle in Bengaluru and also elsewhere in the state.

The Chief Minister also launched CORONA Helpdesk in partnership with WhatsApp, for latest updates and facts on COVID-19.

Commissioner of BBMP (Bengaluru civic body) has ordered all private healthcare facilities not to deny essential and critical emergency Services to any patients citing ongoing situation of COVID-19.

PTI Report