Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa met MPs and MLAs of Bengaluru at Vidhana Soudha on Friday. Express Photo
Karnataka Bengaluru Coronavirus June 26 Highlights: As Covid-19 cases in Bengaluru continue to rise rapidly — with 113 fresh cases — Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa convened an all-party meet Friday to discuss the strategy to contain the same.
However, the Karnataka government on Thursday ruled out the possibility of reimposition of a lockdown in Bengaluru amid rising Covid-19 cases and growing pressure on healthcare, but announced a wait and watch policy to take a final call on forced social distancing in the city.
Following the meeting, Revenue Minister R Ashoka said, “There will be no lockdown in Bengaluru. It is clear, no lockdown in Bengaluru.”
There were growing murmurs in the state government on the possibility of another lockdown in the wake of a rise in Covid-19 cases in the city since June 1.
The Karnataka government allowed health workers testing positive and are asymptomatic for coronavirus to be in Home Quarantine, following guidelines of the isolation protocol.
"In view of the fact that doctors, nurses, and paramedic workers who have turned positive are well aware of the isolation protocol, it has been decided that they will be permitted to be in home isolation," an order issued by Additional Chief Secretary (H&FW) Jawaid Akhtar read.
Further, the order listed several conditions including directions to report their health status to their supervisors on a daily basis and being subjected to another swab test on completing 7 days of isolation, if remaining asymptomatic even then.
Meanwhile, the concerned officers have been directed to distribute PPE kits and pulse oximeters to asymptomatic health workers testing positive for the infection.
As Covid-19 cases in Bengaluru continued to see a steady rise on Friday as well, among 144 total people who were confirmed affection by the infection were
As many as six employees of Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation were among 144 people who tested positive for Covid-19 in Bengaluru on Friday.
With this, the total number of BMTC employees infected so far rose to 22, the public transport corporation in charge of operating buses in Bengaluru confirmed.
"Out of the total cases reported earlier, 5 people have received treatment and have got discharged. Primary contacts are tracked by BBMP and put on home quarantine after due briefing regarding dos and don'ts," the statement read.
“Cyanide” Mohan, a serial killer who has murdered several women using the deadly chemical after befriending and raping them, has been sentenced by a court here to life imprisonment for raping and murdering a woman from Kerala in 2009.
Sixth Additional District and Sessions Court Judge Sayeednunnisa pronounced the quantum of sentence on Wednesday.
The 57-year old Mohan was convicted of murder on Saturday.
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In the wake of the ongoing pandemic siuation in Bengaluru, CM Yediyurappa Friday announced that swab collection and testing facilities will be set up in every Assembly Constituency.
"Testing facilities where throat swabs can be collected and tested will be set up at every Assembly Constituency (in Bengaluru). Separate ambulance facility to transport dead bodies of Covid 19 patients would be enhanced," he announced.
Further, he added that Bengaluru had 1207 active cases until yesterday evening. "All necessary preparations have been taken considering the surge in the cases everyday," the CM said in a meeting held with MPs, Ministers and MLAs of Bengaluru.
Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah Friday urged the government to announce another lockdown to contain the spread of Covid-19.
“The state needs another lockdown but this time it should be well planned. Last time, it was imposed without a second thought impacting the people’s health and even the economy of the State, he said.
He further suggested that lockdown was imperative in the wake of the daily rise in the number of fresh cases and fatalities linked to the pandemic in the State.
The South Western Railway Friday announced beginning operations of overnight trains between Bengaluru and Belagavi.
According to the schedule, the daily superfast express will depart at 9 pm to arrive at the destination at 7.25 am the next day (both sides).
Alternate seats marked-off, luggage sanitised, information boards and awareness messages set across Mysuru airport.
Shantinagar MLA N A Haris Friday urged the Karnataka government to announce a lockdown in Bengaluru in the wake of cases going high in the city.
"Despite Bengaluru witnessing a community transmission-like trend, the government has not taken adequate measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. Lockdown is the need of the hour and saving lives should be the government's priority above all," he said.
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Bengaluru city police observed International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Thursday.
According to Bengaluru city Police commissioner, Bhaskar Rao, in 2019-20 police have booked 1,174 cases under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT NDPS) Act. " We have arrested 1,801 nationals and 44 foreigners who were into drug peddling in Bengaluru."
In a video message, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said, " The Karnataka Government has a Zero tolerance Policy towards drugs. Let's pledge to fight against drugs. Government and Police is taking all steps to counter the problem. I call upon everyone especially parents, school management and teachers to join hands with Police to end this menace."
The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) Friday stated that 16 of its employees have tested positive for coronavirus so far, of which four have recovered.
"With view of early detection and speedy treatment of covid 19, BMTC had organised random testing of crew. This proactive step was taken in the interest of employees," a statement read.
Further, officials added that all primary contacts of employees who tested positive are tracked by the BBMP and have been put on home quarantine "after due briefing regarding dos and don'ts of the same."
A driver-cum-conductor attached to KR Puram depot was the first among BMTC employees to get infected. He was discharged from the designated hospital after he recovered from the infection last week.
A 60-year-old woman who tested positive for coronavirus in Bengaluru killed herself in a designated hospital on Thursday, police confirmed.
According to the police, the woman hung herself in the restroom of K C General Hospital. "She had gone to the restroom at around 2 am on Wednesday. However, as she did not return for a long while, her daughter-in-law went to check on her when she found her hanging dead," the police said.
It can be recalled that a head constable, attached to the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) had killed himself on his way to C V Raman Hospital in Indiranagar on Monday.
Minister Suresh Kumar Thursday clarified that the Karnataka government will continue and complete the SSLC exams as scheduled even though the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) decided to cancel the remaining exams of Class 10 and 12 in the wake of the pandemic.
“It should be noted that the same Supreme Court had approved our Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) presented to conduct the exams an hour after it sent a notice to the CBSE,” he said replying to a query.
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A Karnataka-based popular dairy brand has got everyone talking online after launching two new ice-cream flavours, however, not for the reasons they would like. Keeping in mind the health quotient in food products, Dairy Day has launched two new range of ice-cream flavours — Haldi and Chyawanprash — to help boost immunity. Photos of the latter have taken social media by storm.
Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, conversations have shifted to a healthier lifestyle, mostly about consuming healthy food. As more brands are launching products keeping immunity in mind, the two new ice-cream flavours, which also have the goodness of amla, honey and dates, haven’t really whetted people’s appetite, at least not on social media .
Significantly, the dairy products have no additional flavour or colour.
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The Karnataka government on Thursday ruled out the possibility of reimposition of a lockdown in Bengaluru amid rising Covid-19 cases and growing pressure on healthcare, but announced a wait and watch policy to take a final call on forced social distancing in the city.
Following the meeting, Revenue Minister R Ashoka said, “There will be no lockdown in Bengaluru. It is clear, no lockdown in Bengaluru.”
Read more
The South Western Railway Thursday confirmed the death of a Travelling Ticketing Examiner as a Covid-19 fatality.
"The deceased, aged 57, was not feeling well while he was at his native and had visited a doctor once. However, he died after two days and his swab was taken then. The result has now come out indicating positive for coronavirus," SWR Chief PRO E Vijaya told Indianexpress.com.
According to an official statement, the TTE was attached to Bagalkot as his headquarter station and it is suspected that contracted the infection when he traveled to Miraj (a city in southern Maharashtra).
The BBMP has started segregating COVID-19 patients based on their symptoms with hospitals running short of beds for treatment. According to BBMP Commissioner B H Anil Kumar, the BBMP has revised protocols for admission, with patients being sent to hospitals for treatment after assessment by a BBMP official.
Asymptomatic patients will be treated at COVID-19 care centres, those with symptoms of fever or cough at Dedicated COVID Health Centres and critical patients at Dedicated COVID Hospitals.
Revenue Minister R Ashoka, also the legislator from Bengaluru's Padmanabhanagar constitutency, was appointed in-charge minister to handle Covid-19 affairs of the Karnataka capital.
According to sources, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa is said to have made this decision after Medical Education Minister Sudhakar K, who was in charge of the same before, is in home quarantine after his father, wife, and daughter tested positive for coronavirus a couple of days back.
Ashoka had attended a meeting held on Thursday at the Vidhana Soudha where his inputs were sought for suggestions on developing a revised strategy to contain the pandemic in Bengaluru.
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