Veteran journalist and former Rajya Sabha member Patil Puttappa passes away at 99

Death

Puttappa died at the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) in Hubballi, where he was undergoing treatment for age-related ailments.

PTI

Veteran journalist and former Rajya Sabha member Patil Puttappa passed away due to age-related ailments at a hospital in Karnataka's Hubballi on Monday night, officials sources said. He was 99. He died at the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), where he was undergoing treatment due to age-related ailments, the sources said, adding that he was survived by a son and two daughters. Fondly referred to as "PaPu", Puttappa was the founder-editor of weekly "Prapancha" and also edited "Navayuga". He also wrote columns in various dailies. Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa expressed his "deep grief" over the demise of Puttappa, who was also a Kannada activist. "Patil Puttappa was in the forefront of the freedom struggle. He was a popular writer, journalist and a hardcore Kannada activist.... In his death, the state has lost a great personality," the chief minister said in a statement. "He represented the State in the Rajya Sabha for two terms. He was also the first president of the Kannada Watchdog Committee and was also the Founder President of Border Advisory Committee. His contribution to the society is commendable," the statement added. Puttappa represented Karnataka in the Rajya Sabha for two terms. He was also the first president of the Kannada Watchdog Committee and was also the founder-president of the Border Advisory Committee. Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, former Karnataka chief ministers Siddaramaiah and H D Kumaraswamy, state BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel and Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar condoled Puttappa's death.  

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Coronavirus cases in Karnataka climb to 10

Coronavirus

The state government is yet to share the age, travel history and other details of the ninth and tenth infected persons.

TNM Staff

PTI : Image for representation

The Karnataka government confirmed that the number of coronavirus cases in the state had jumped to 10, late on Tuesday. The update came just hours after the Health and Family Welfare Department in the state had confirmed that a person who travelled with the techie from Mindtree, who was earlier tested positive for the virus, was the eighth case of COVID-19 in the state. The government is yet to share the age, travel history and other details of the ninth and tenth infected persons. The number of cases in Karnataka went up by 3 on Monday. The eighth case reported in the state was that of a 32-year-old man who travelled from London in a British Airways (BA-119) flight alongside a techie from Mindtree who earlier tested positive.  Of the 10 cases in the state, six are confirmed to be from Bengaluru. This includes one person each from Dell India, Mindtree Ltd and Google Inc who have travel histories to Europe and the United States of America. Two other cases are from Kalaburagi district including the 76-year-old man whose death was linked to coronavirus. He was also suffering from other ailments like blood pressure and asthma.  The state is currently in a week-long partial lockdown after the government ordered the closure of pubs, malls and theatres. The state government has also issued an advisory to Information Technology (IT) companies in Bengaluru to allow employees to work from home.  With the number of cases in the state climbing to 10, health officials stated that they are planning to announce a slew of new measures to help contain the spread of the disease. 

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Tourism restricted, more labs planned: K’taka intensifies measures against COVID-19

Coronavirus

Additional laboratories to test COVID-19 will also be established in Mangaluru and Kalaburagi districts as per guidelines issued by the central government.

Theja Ram

Hampi

The Karnataka government on Monday decided to prohibit entry for tourists in Mandya, Mysuru, VIjayapura, Ballari, Koppal and Kodagu districts.  The move restricts entry to major tourist destinations in Karnataka including Hampi and Madikeri.  Karnataka Chief Minister (CM) BS Yediyurappa confirmed the decision in a video conference held with the Deputy Commissioners of all 30 districts in the state. "Foreign tourists and  people who have returned from foreign tours are screened thoroughly," read a statement issued by the CM's office. In the meeting, a demand for additional ventilators was raised for Bidar and Vijayapura districts. "Since shortness of breath is one of the symptoms, we are planning to ensure that ventilators are available in all hospitals," a health official told TNM.  Additional laboratories to test COVID-19 will also be established in Mangaluru and Kalaburagi districts as per guidelines issued by the central government. Currently, there are no laboratories to run COVID-19 tests in coastal Karnataka. In districts where government medical colleges are unavailable, private facilities will be readied to help contain the spread of the disease. Health department officials also stated that there were plans to convert government buildings into medical facilities. Additional facilities are currently planned in Bengaluru. "When the number of medical facilities are increased, we will require more Group C and Group D workers to help with the cleaning process in these facilities," an official told TNM. Since a large number of people visit places of worship, fairs taking place across the state have been called off.  Screening processes and help desks were put in place in railway stations and bus stands in the state. Checkposts in the state's border areas will also have help desks.  Home stays in the state are being monitored by district officials.  So far, the state government has reported 8 cases of COVID-19 among which 6 are from Bengaluru with at least three of them working in the Information Technology (IT sector). The lone coronavirus-linked death reported was that of a 76-year-old man from Kalaburagi district. Read: Co-passenger who travelled with Mindtree techie is 8th COVID-19 patient in Karnataka

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White House deploys SWAT teams of technocrats in attempt to fix testing

The move is widely seen as an acknowledgment that efforts to identity coronavirus patients continue to lag.

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Latest coronavirus testing glitch: Not enough cotton swabs

Trump administration warns labs of supply "speed bumps" as testing expands.

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America begins drinking at home

With states and cities shutting down bars and restaurants, the government response to the coronavirus outbreak enters a new phase.

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Supermarkets will remain open in Bengaluru, govt denies rumours

Coronavirus

BBMP Commissioner BH Anil Kumar reiterated that there was no order to close down supermarkets in the city and that they would function as usual.

TNM Staff

The Karnataka government on Monday denied rumours that air conditioned supermarkets were ordered to be closed over fears of the spread of coronavirus in the state. Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner BH Anil Kumar reiterated that there was no order to close down supermarkets in the city and that they would function as usual. "Supermarkets have been permitted to open doors to facilitate purchase of essential commodities," a press release from the Chief Minister's office stated.  News reports had earlier quoted Manjunath Raju, Chairperson of BBMP's Standing Committee on Health saying that air conditioned supermarkets would be ordered to be closed. However, the BBMP Commissioner stated that no such order was issued. He further condemned local media for publishing such false reports and then asking for verification.  The Karnataka government had earlier shut down malls, theatres and pubs across the state. The partial shutdown in the state however does not include supermarkets.  Confusion had reigned early on Saturday morning over whether the state government's order extended to supermarkets. But it was clarified that supermarkets will not be directed to be closed.  There are eight confirmed cases of coronavirus in Karnataka including six from Bengaluru. The lone coronavirus-linked death reported in the state is that of a 76-year-old man from Kalaburagi. Officials in Bengaluru are trying to ensure that coronavirus cases do not spread in the city and are tracing contacts of everyone who may have come in touch with the patients who tested positive for the virus

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