COVID-19: K'taka tally rises to 175, govt to decide on lockdown after panel report

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Bengaluru, Apr 7 () Twelve new positive coronaviruscases have been confirmed in Karnataka, taking the totalnumber of affected in the state to 175, the Health departmentsaid on Tuesday.

The state government said it will take a decision on thecontinuation of the 21 days lockdown that ends on April 14,after examining the report by a panel of health experts whohave been tasked with devising an exit strategy, which islikely to be submitted in couple of days.

As of 5:00 PM on April7, cumulatively 175 COVID-19positive cases have been confirmed in the state, it includes 4deaths and 25 discharges, the department said in a bulletin.

Noting that 25 people getting recovered and dischargedwas a good news and sign of confidence, Primary and SecondaryEducation Minister Suresh Kumar briefing media about thebulletin said, "12 out of 30 districts in the state haveremained and have continued to be crona free districts."

"Only in 18 districts there is impact and cases have beenreported," he said, adding that Nanjanagudu, Gauribidanur andBhatkal that had become "hot spots" for COVID-19 cases in thestate have not reported any fresh cases.

Among the 12 new cases, four (one from Bagalkote, twofrom Bengaluru city and one from Bengaluru Rural) had attendedTablighi-Jamaat congregation at Delhi from March 13-18; whilethree from Mandya are contacts of patients with history ofattending the Jamaat congregation.

Others include a 41-year old woman from Bagalkote, who isneighbour of a 75-year old man who died on April 3; 80-yearold woman from Gadag with history of Severe Acute RespiratoryInfection (SARI); 68-year old male from Bengaluru with travelhistory to Dubai; and a woman (contact of a patient) and a man(with history of SARI) from Kalaburagi.

On the Tablighi-Jamaat congregation attendees, theMinister said from around 920 people samples collected so far,623 are negative, 27 positive while the remaining results arestill awaited.

Asked whether the government completed tracing all thosewho had attended the congregation, he said, we are waiting forsome more information from the districts, once we have it, thedetails will be shared.

The department said that out of 146 active cases in thestate, 143 patients (including 1 pregnant woman) are inisolation at designated hospitals and are stable, while 3 inICU (one on oxygen and two on Ventilators).

It said, 9 out of total 175 cases detected and confirmedin the state so far are transit passengers of Kerala who havelanded in our airports and being treated in Karnataka.

Those discharged include 16 patients from Bengaluru, fourfrom Dakshina Kannada, two each from Kalaburagi and Davangere,and one from Bengaluru Rural; while among those dead are oneeach are reported from Kalaburgari, Bengaluru, Bagalkote andTumakuru.

Regarding the lockdown extension in Karnataka, Kumar saidthe state government has not taken any decision, but there aretalks on with committee of health experts about the way inwhich we should move forward.

"The committee consisting of Narayana Health founder-chairman Dr Devi Prasad Shetty and Jayadeva Institute ofCardiovascular Sciences director Dr C N Manjunath- is likelyto submit its report in two days, after which government willtake a decision and announce," he said.

In-charge District Secretaries who had had been to theirrespective districts in the last week of March on thedirections of the CM and had reviewed the situation andmeasures taken there, have been asked again to go to districtsthis week.

Kumar said, in-charge District Secretaries, along withreviewing things, will also work on preparations for thefuture.

In a new move, the government has revised lab testingprotocol adding influenza like illness (ILI) patients also fortesting in the containment area.

Additional Chief Secretary Health and Family Welfaredepartment Jawaid Akhtar said by adding ILI we have broadenedthe categories for collection of samples aimed at ramping upthe testing, and this will further increase the requirement oftesting kits.

"We have taken necessary action for that, at 8 places weare buying automated RNA extraction kits that will speed upfrequency of testing in the labs," he added.

In another step, the Department of Health & FamilyWelfare has notified 8 hospitals as dedicated COVID-19hospitals.

The designated hospitals are Rajiv Gandhi Super SpecialtyHospital (Raichur), Bidar Institute of Medical Sciences,Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences, Mandya Institute ofMedical Sciences,Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences,Belgaum Institute of Medical Sciences.

Also,Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (Dharwad)and District Hospital (Koppal).

Meanwhile,three activists of Muslim outfits have filedseparate complaints with the police in Dakshina Kannadadistrict against provocative posts being circulated on thesocial media 'attacking' the Muslim community. KSU MVG ROH ROH