Karnataka Bengaluru April 13 Highlights: 52 more deaths reported, test positivity rate up at 8.24%

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted evening rains in Yadagir, Bagalkote, Belagavi, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Davanagere, and Chitradurga as well on Tuesday evening. 

According to their forecast issued at 5.25 pm, “thunderstorms with lightning accompanied with light to moderate spells of rain and gusty winds speed reaching 30-40 kmph” are likely in these north Karnataka districts during the next three hours.

A forecast issued earlier on Tuesday had predicted rains in Bidar, Kalaburagi, and Vijayapura districts.

Mosques in containment zones will remain closed till the zone is denotified, a circular issued by the Karnataka government on Tuesday mentioned. A set of guidelines for observance of rituals in connection with the Ramzan month has been issued in the wake of the ongoing second wave in the state.

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Tuesday said he has convened an all party meeting on April 18 to decide the future course of action on increasing Covid-19 cases in the state. 

Speaking to reporters in Bidar he said, "Besides former chief ministers Siddaramaiah and H D Kumaraswamy and Congress state chief D K Shivakumar, the members of Technical Advisory Committee members will attend the meeting on April 18."

Yediyurappa also clarified that the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) has not recommended any lockdown. "No one has recommended a lockdown,” he said.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted rain in Bidar, Kalaburagi, and Vijayapura district on Tuesday evening.

According to their forecast issued at 3.35 pm, “thunderstorms with lightning accompanied with light to moderate spells of rain and gusty winds speed reaching 30-40 kmph” are likely in these north Karnataka districts during the next three hours.

Considering the rising temperature in Kalayana Karnataka districts, the Department of Public Instructions has come out with a change in school hours in the region. As per the order issued by the Additional Commissioner of Public Instruction, Kalaburagi, Nalin Atul, the new schedule for children is 8 am to 1.10 pm. However, the teachers would have to work between 8 am and 1.30 pm.

The order also said that the new schedule should be adjusted to accommodate seven teaching periods, each lasting 40 minutes, and a leisure period of 30 minutes, after the fourth period.

Since there is the possibility of children developing dehydration due to the rising temperature in the region, teachers are asked to mandatorily ring the ‘drinking water bell’ after the second and sixth periods to encourage children to drink water. The order will be implemented in seven districts of Kalaburagi Division and Vijayapura and Bagalkot districts in Belagavi Division

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The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will together form a special panel to identify safe locations for installing electric installations and equipment in the city, including transformers. 

In an affidavit filed recently by the BBMP Chief Commissioner and BESCOM MD at the Karnataka High Court, it has been proposed that the panel will identify transformers posing danger to the public. Earlier, the High Court had directed BBMP and BESCOM to formulate a scheme to permit the installation of electricity transformers on footpaths without compromising the safety of pedestrians.

Around 54 state road transport corporation buses were damaged as miscreants pelted stones on them from April 7 to April 13 at 12 pm, according to Karnataka road transport corporations. 

It's been seven days since the workers of the Karnataka road transport corporations called for an indefinite strike  demanding that the government implement a salary system as per the 6th Pay Commission for workers of state transport undertakings.

The workers of Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), and North Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NEKRTC), under the banner of Karnataka State Road Transport Employees League, have called for an indefinite strike.

The India Cost Guard (ICG) Monday confirmed that a search and rescue operation was underway after a sea accident was reported near New Mangalore Port in Karnataka. As many as 14 fishermen are missing, as per reports. 

According to Coast Guard officials, 3 ICG ships and aircraft have been deployed for the operation. 'The search for 14 fishermen of IFB Rabah approximately 43 nautical miles off west New Mangalore is on. Two crew members have been found, search for other crew is in progress,' officials confirmed.

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Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Monday said the state government could impose a lockdown if the necessity arises.
 
“If people don’t heed instructions, we may have to take stringent measures. If required and if necessity arises, we will impose a lockdown,” Yediyurappa told reporters in Bidar.
Reacting to queries on the growing coronavirus cases in the state, which saw the numbers breaching 10,000 on Sunday, he said the Prime Minister had also spoken to him about the measures taken by his government.
 
“I told him we have imposed night curfew in the districts where cases are rising,” Yediyurappa said.

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The Covid-19 death toll in Bengaluru Urban rose to 4855 on Monday as 40 more people succumbed to the infection. While the oldest among the deceased was aged 89 (a male patient diagnosed with influenza-like illness), two male patients aged 38 were the youngest to have succumbed to the infection. 

Meanwhile, the active caseload in the Karnataka capital rose to 56,545. Over 4.88 lakh people have tested positive in Bengaluru since March 2020 while over 4.62 lakh people have recovered from the same to date.

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Yves Le Drian will be in Bengaluru on Thursday, on the last day of his three-day visit to India beginning Tuesday. 

According to the Minister's tour schedule mentioned by the Ministry of External Affairs, Le Drian will visit the Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) and the Bangalore Life Sciences Cluster (BLiSc).

Later, he is also scheduled to meet investors and CEOs of major Indian business groups to promote France as an attractive investment destination. Le Drian will also address an event themed around technological innovation during his time at the Karnataka capital.

The Chief Commissioner of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Gaurav Gupta held a virtual meeting regarding the spread of Covid-19 at the zonal level on Monday.

He instructed the officials to take appropriate measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 at the zonal level. In this regard, Covid tests and vaccination must be increased and beds for Covid patients must be made available immediately, he added.

Gupta said that 50% of beds must be reserved immediately in private hospitals. Measures are being taken to introduce a single helpline number (1912) to help Covid-infected individuals, he added.

He reiterated that the vaccination rate must be increased at the BBMP level. Besides, a pamphlet should be prepared to educate citizens about vaccination. He further said that work on raising awareness though loudspeakers on auto-rickshaws must take place.

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As many as 239 more people tested positive in Tumakuru district on Monday as the total active caseload rose to nearly 2000. A neighbouring district of Bengaluru, just 70 kilometres away from the Karnataka capital, has not reported any Covid-19 fatality since Saturday (April 10). 

Meanwhile, 20 patients among those admitted to designated Covid-19 hospitals in the district are in the Intensive Care Unit, according to data issued by the Department of Health and Family Welfare Services.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday greeted people on the special occasion of Ugadi. 

"Wishing everyone on the special occasion of Ugadi, " he tweeted. 

"Over the next few days, people across India are going to be marking various festivals. These festivals showcase India's diversity and the spirit of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.' May these special occasions spread happiness, prosperity and brotherhood across the nation," he added.

Ugadi is New Year's Day for the Kannada speaking people in Karnataka. 

With 362 new Covid-19 cases identified on Monday, the active caseload in Mysuru rose to 1960. Meanwhile, 303 others recovered from the infection as the cumulative recoveries since March 2020 rose to 55,527 in the district. 

At the same time, three more deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. These included an 80-year-old male patient, a 60-year-old male patient, and a 62-year old patient, all diagnosed with Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) before testing positive. Mysuru is the only district other than Bengaluru Urban to have reported over a thousand Covid-19 deaths (1086 till date) since the pandemic broke out.

Considering the rising temperature in Kalayana Karnataka districts, the Department of Public Instructions has come out with a change in school hours in the region.

As per the order issued by Additional Commissioner of Public Instruction, Kalaburagi, Nalin Atul, the new schedule for children is 8 am to 1.10 pm. However, the teachers would have to work between 8 am and 1.30 pm.

The order also said that the new schedule should be adjusted to accommodate seven teaching periods, each lasting 40 minutes, and a leisure period of 30 minutes, after the fourth period. 

Since there is the possibility of children developing dehydration due to the rising temperature in the region, teachers are asked to mandatorily ring the 'drinking water bell' after the second and sixth periods to encourage children to drink water. 

The order will be implemented in seven districts of Kalaburagi Division and Vijayapura and Bagalkot districts in Belagavi Division.

With two more deaths in Bidar linked to Covid-19 on Monday, the cumulative death toll rose to 194. Among the deceased were a 70-year-old female patient and a 33-year-old male patient, both diagnosed with Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) while getting admitted to a designated hospital two days ago. 

Meanwhile, 465 more people tested positive in the north Karnataka district that shares borders with Maharashtra and Telangana. The active caseload in Bidar stands at 2082 as 154 others recovered from the infection in the last 24 hours.

Private hospitals have been asked to reserve 50% beds for Covid patients, like during the first wave, said Health & Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar. He was speaking to the media here after a video conference with the Private Hospitals and Nursing Home Association (PHANA). Hospitals have agreed to do so within a week.

Sudhakar said private hospitals have been advised to get vacated beds occupied by non-Covid patients who don’t require hospitalisation and reserve them for Covid patients. Patients without symptoms and with mild symptoms will be isolated in hotels and Covid-care centres. Only patients with severe conditions will be treated in hospitals, said the minister.

“Private hospitals have complained that remdesivir is not available in the market. We will discuss the issue with drug controllers and supply the medicine to private hospitals at government rates,” said Dr Sudhakar. “We have taken measures to ensure sufficient quantities of ventilators and oxygen. If required, industrial oxygen will be utilised,” he added.

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With 335 more people contracting coronavirus infection, the total active cases in Kalaburagi rose to 2082 on Monday. The cumulative tally in the Kalyana-Karnataka region has risen further to 26,539 since March 2020. 

Meanwhile, 228 others recovered from the infection. The district recorded no fatalities linked to the pandemic for the first time in April 2021. As many as 364 people, including India's first fatality on March 10 last year, have succumbed to the infection in the district so far.

Amid the ongoing strike by employees of the road transport corporations (RTC) in Karnataka, one of them allegedly attempted suicide at the bus-stand in Hassan on Monday, police said.

40-year-old Palaksha, the vice-president of Hassan-Chikkamagaluru KSRTC Employees Cooperative Society, consumed poison, the police said. He has been admitted to the District Hospital in Hassan, they said. 

He has been seeking justice for the striking employees, who have allegedly been transferred, and for those against whom cases were booked, they added.

Employees of the four transport corporations in the state have been on strike for the last six days demanding wages as per the recommendation of the 6th Pay Commission. (PTI)

Karnataka on Monday reported 9,579 fresh Covid-19 cases and 52 related fatalities, taking the total caseload to 10.74 lakh and the toll to 12,941, the state health department said.

Bengaluru Urban alone accounted for 6,387 of the fresh cases. The day also saw 2,767 patients getting discharged after recovery.

Cumulatively, 10,74,869 Covid-19 cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 12,941 deaths and 9,85,924 discharges, the health department said in its bulletin.

Out of 75,985 active cases, 75,515 patients are stable and in isolation at designated hospitals, while 470 are in Intensive Care Units.

Bengaluru Urban continued to log the most number of deaths (40), Mysuru reported 3, Bidar and Chamarajanagar 2 each and one each from Bagalkote, Ballari, Belagavi, Chikkaballapura and Ramanagara.

A total of over 2,28,06,423 samples have been tested so far, out of which 1,16,165 were done on Monday alone.

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The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the municipal body governing the Karnataka capital, has identified 36 areas within city limits in total as active micro-containment zones, as on Monday. 

Among them, Yelahanka zone has the most (14) followed by BBMP East (10), Dasarahalli (7), BBMP South (3), and RR Nagar (2) zones. BBMP West zone, Mahadevapura and Bommanahalli zones have no such areas earmarked to micromanage Covid-19 clusters as the second wave continues.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the municipal body governing the Karnataka capital, has identified 36 areas within city limits in total as active micro-containment zones, as on Monday. 

Among them, Yelahanka zone has the most (14) followed by BBMP East (10), Dasarahalli (7), BBMP South (3), and RR Nagar (2) zones. BBMP West zone, Mahadevapura and Bommanahalli zones have no such areas earmarked to micromanage Covid-19 clusters as the second wave continues.

Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala summoned top bureaucrats — Chief Secretary P Ravikumar and Additional Chief Secretary (Health & Family Welfare) Jawaid Akhtar — on Monday to review the Covid-19 situation in the state. 

According to sources at the Karnataka Raj Bhavan, the senior bureaucrats submitted a detailed report of the ongoing second wave and apprised the Governor of the facilities in place to mitigate the same. 

The state has reported 1,23,618 new cases and 610 deaths since March 1, 2021. Karnataka is also fourth among all states and union territories in India with the highest active caseload (75,985) as on Monday, behind Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh.

With the demand to conduct online exams rising from various stakeholders including students of different universities amid an ongoing second wave, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwathnarayan has confirmed online exams will not be a viable option in the state. 

'It would not be possible to conduct online exams in the present system. Examinations will be conducted in offline mode as conducting them online is not possible in the government setup. Only a few deemed universities may be able to conduct exams online,' he said in Bengaluru. 

However, Ashwathnarayan — also in charge of the Higher Education portfolio — admitted that there was a demand from some students and parents to conduct examinations using the online mode.

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Stating that lockdown is not being considered “for now”, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Monday said that it may be considered if the situation in the state, and specifically Bengaluru, worsens over the next week.

Covid-19 cases touched 10,250 with 40 deaths – 7,584 in Bengaluru with 27 deaths – on Sunday (daily positivity rate of 7.72 percent) and 9,579 cases with 52 deaths (6,387 in Bengaluru with 40 deaths) on Monday (daily positivity rate at a new high of 8.24 percent).

“We have night curfew now and if the situation worsens we will discuss with the Prime Minister and decide. No lockdown is being considered for now. We will see the situation after a week and decide,” Yediyurappa said amid speculation that a state technical advisory committee for the pandemic has recommended a brief lockdown in parts of the state to curb the surge.

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