A healthcare worker collects the swab sample of a person in Bengaluru. (PTI) Karnataka Bengaluru Coronavirus News March 23 Highlights: Karnataka Health and Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar Tuesday admitted that the second wave of coronavirus infections has begun in the state. “The second wave has begun in the state. The number of cases is increasing in several parts of the state. People should be vigilant and ensure that Covid-19 precautions are followed,” he said.
Meanwhile, as many as 1280 more people contracted coronavirus infection in Bengaluru on Tuesday, as the capital city continued to report most among all districts in Karnataka. Meanwhile, 2010 cases were reported from across the state with five more deaths linked to the pandemic on March 22.
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For the first time in the last few months, two districts other than Bengaluru Urban reported new cases in three-digit numbers. While 129 people contracted the infection in the last 24 hours in Kalaburagi, 100 cases were recorded in Mysuru. Other districts that reported most cases on Tuesday are Bidar (76), Dakshina Kannada (74), and Tumkur (40).
Meanwhile, Bengaluru Urban continued to host nearly 70 per cent of the active caseload in the state. As many as 10,766 active cases out of the total 15,595 in the state were from the capital city alone.
Test positivity rate rose to 2.03 per cent as 98,733 samples were tested on Tuesday.
The Karnataka government Tuesday decided to continue classes and to hold examinations as scheduled in colleges and universities in the state amid the second wave confirmed in the state.
“Strict vigilance will be put in place to ensure strict adherence to SOPs while continuing the offline classes and examinations as per the timetable scheduled by the universities amid the possible outbreak of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic,” Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwathnarayan said.
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Karnataka Health and Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar Tuesday admitted that the second wave of coronavirus infections has begun in the state. "The second wave has begun in the state. The number of cases is increasing in several parts of the state. People should be vigilant and ensure that Covid-19 precautions are followed," he said.
Sudhakar added that people not wearing mask and violating norms are being penalised across the state. "Functions and gatherings should be avoided for next two months," he appealed.
Days after an alleged letter threatening Kannada superstar Shiva Rajkumar, former minister BT Lalitha Naik, and others with death, the Karnataka Home Department cleared security cover for them, while an investigation is underway to find those behind the letter.
Rajkumar confirmed to indianexpress.com that he has been assigned security escorts since Monday but chose not to comment any further on the issue.
Naik, also a noted writer, said, “After the letter was brought to the notice of the authorities, I have been provided with a security cover.”
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Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa Tuesday welcomed the decision by the central government to make everyone aged above 45 years eligible for vaccination from April 1.
"I appeal to all eligible citizens to get vaccinated and stay protected. Together we can make Karnataka Covid-19 free," he remarked.
Senior Janata Dal (Secular) leader H D Kumaraswamy took his first dose of Covid vaccine on Tuesday. The 61-year-old former Karnataka Chief Minister was inoculated at Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research in Bengaluru.
A day after Congress demanded the state government to file a rape case against former BJP minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, opposition legislators intensified their stance on Tuesday.
Walking down the well of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, Congress leaders raised slogans against the government terming it as "CD government." The demand was raised on Tuesday initially by legislators Krishna Byre Gowda and Priyank Kharge.
With the sex-for-job CD row continuing to be a bone of contention between the ruling BJP and Opposition, Congress legislators in Karnataka Assembly have demanded the registration of a rape case against former BJP minister Ramesh Jarkiholi.
Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah, who led the chorus of leaders demanding the same, said, “A case has to be filed against Ramesh Jarkiholi under IPC section 376 based on the complaint by the victim. Else we won’t be able to do justice to the woman.”
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A new flight service will be introduced between Mysuru and Chennai from March 29, catering to the demand raised by air passengers on the route. Confirming the same, Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha said the flight introduced by IndiGo will operate thrice a week from March 29.
According to IndiGo, the flight is scheduled to leave Mysuru at 4.35 pm to reach Chennai at 5.55 pm. On its return direction, the flight will take-off from Chennai at 2.50 pm to land in Mysuru at 4.15 pm.
In yet another tale of job loss owing to the coronavirus-induced lockdown, a survey conducted among workers of garment factories in Bengaluru have estimated that over half of the workforce suffered from “forced resignations”.
According to a survey conducted by Garment and Textiles Workers’ Union (GATWU) and Alternative Law Forum (ALF) in 25 garment factories in and around the Karnataka capital, an estimated “50 to 62 per cent of the workforce” were forced to resign in 2020. Researchers indicated that at least 30,000 workers were employed in the 25 factories picked for the study titled “Forced Resignations, Stealthy Closures”.
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Director Manoj Kumar’s Akshi was named Best Film in the Kannada language at the 67th National Awards, which were announced on Monday. Meanwhile, Wild Karnataka, by wildlife photographers Amoghavarsha and Kalyan Varma bagged two awards including Best Voice Over Artist (Sir David Attenborough) and Best Exploration Film.
Actor-filmmaker Rakshit Shetty starrer Avane Srimannarayana was recognised for its sleek stunt sequences. The film’s stunt choreographer Vikram Mor received the award for Best Action Direction.
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Citing a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases in Punjab, the Karnataka government Monday issued an order making it mandatory for those entering from the northern state to furnish a negative RT-PCR Covid test report.
Earlier, the same was required only for people entering from neighbouring Maharashtra and Kerala. The decision to extend the same to these states is based on the recommendations put forth by the Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee, the order clarified.
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A Bill to modify the list of Scheduled Castes in Tamil Nadu by grouping seven castes which presently exist as separate was passed by Rajya Sabha Monday after clearing Lok Sabha Friday.
Moving The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot said seven sub-castes would be encompassed under Devendrakula Vellalar with the exclusion of the Kadian community in certain listed districts. He said this has nothing to do with the elections.
Mallikarjun Khare, Leader of the Opposition, asked why this was brought up only before the Assembly elections in the state. He described how Gandhi had concerns about reservations but that Babasaheb Ambedkar had convinced him. Now, he said, he sees reservations are slowly decreasing.
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A week after the Karnataka government announced reactivation of Covid Care Centes (CCCs) in Bengaluru due to the steady daily hike in new Covid-19 cases since the beginning of March, three of them in Bengaluru are likely to admit asymptomatic patients from Wednesday.
“Three Covid Care Centres will be operational in Bengaluru this week. We can contain the second wave if people co-operate,” Health Minister Sudhakar said.
According to BBMP officers, the CCCs that have been opened are at Haj Bhavan (200 beds), HAL Ghatage Convention Centre (186 beds), and National Games Village Koramangala (200 beds).
With 72 more Covid-19 cases reported from the Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) on Monday, the cumulative caseload of the cluster rose to 371. The cluster alone amounted to over 63 per cent of the total (113) cases identified in Udupi.
According to officials from the district administration, testing of all students is expected to be completed in the next two days. Following the spurt of new coronavirus cases on campus, Deputy Commissioner G Jagadeesha had said nearly 5000 students would undergo testing. MIT was identified as a containment zone on March 17.
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