Karnataka’s Udupi struggles with 260 COVID-19 cases, results of 3000 samples awaited

Coronavirus

District officials have attributed the spike in cases to the return of more than 8,500 people from other states, particularly from Maharashtra, and from abroad.

Prajwal Bhat

Representational image/PTI

Udupi district in Karnataka recorded 73 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, taking the total number of patients in the district to 260. The figure had seemed far-fetched on May 15, when the number of cases in the district stood at just three. The latest spike has been attributed to the return of migrants from other states as well as people from abroad. But officials in the district say that the spike in cases may continue for a while longer since the results of more than 3,000 samples are pending. These samples are from people who returned to the district in the last two weeks. This delay is because the laboratories testing samples from Udupi are burdened with a high case-load after more than 8,500 people returned to the district, particularly from the neighboring state of Maharashtra. "Samples have piled up after the influx of people returning from other states and from abroad," says Dr Prashant Bhat, nodal officer for COVID-19 in Udupi. This delay has caused returnees in institutional quarantine to stay on for as long as 18 days, Dr Prashant added.  The designated laboratory for coronavirus testing in Udupi is Wenlock District Hospital in Mangaluru. The district administration also sends samples to laboratories at the Kasturba Hospital in Manipal, Yenepoya Medical College, Mangaluru, KS Hegde Medical Academy, Mangaluru, and Viral Diagnostic Laboratory in Shivamogga. Apart from Udupi, the laboratory in Manipal is also testing samples from Uttara Kannada district. The laboratory in Shivamogga is also testing samples from Shivamogga and other nearby districts. The laboratories in Mangaluru, similarly, have samples from Dakshina Kannada district.   Dr Avinash Shetty, Medical Superintendent of Kasturba Hospital in Manipal, one of the private laboratories being used by the Udupi district administration, told TNM that they are testing samples in batches. "We received around 600 samples today and we will be testing them now. The backlog of samples should be cleared in the next few days," Dr Avinash said.  The cases reported in Udupi on Monday included 33 patients with travel history from Maharashtra while three other patients had travel history of returning from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The contacts of 37 patients reported on Monday are yet to be traced by the health department in the district.  In cases of some patients who tested coronavirus positive in the past week, people were released from institutional quarantine after a stipulated period only to be tracked down again and admitted in hospitals after their results returned positive.  Read: Karnataka reports cases of people testing positive for coronavirus after quarantine time While two such cases emerged in Belapu and Belman in the district, the administration is now following up with others who were released from institutional quarantine to ensure they remain in home quarantine till their test results are confirmed.  The spike in cases among returning migrants in Udupi also comes at a time the Karnataka government reduced restrictions on inter-state travel.  Read: Travelling to Karnataka from Maharashtra or other states? What you need to know

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187 new COVID-19 cases in Karnataka: 45 with no apparent travel, contact history

Coronavirus

Among the districts, Udupi reported the most new cases with 73 patients; Bengaluru city reported 28 cases while Kalaburagi reported 24 new cases.

Soumya Chatterjee

On Monday, Karnataka reported an addition of 187 new COVID-19 cases and one new coronavirus-related fatality on Monday, a day after it recorded the highest single day spike of 299 cases. With this, the total number of COVID-19 patients in the state rose to 3,408 while the death toll due to the disease rose to 52. 12 people among the 2,026 presently undergoing treatment in Karnataka are admitted in intensive care units (ICUs).  110 patients were discharged from designated hospitals on Monday. Among the 187 new cases, 117 were interstate passengers who had come to Karnataka. 114 of them had recently returned from Maharashtra. The other three patients in the interstate category travellers returned from Rajasthan (1) and Gujarat (2).  Three were three patients who came from UAE to the state, and all are residents of Udupi. Among the rest of the 67 cases, 45 cases have no relevant travel or contact history. Most of these cases – 37 – are concentrated in Udupi district. Eight patients were in contact with already infected patients and another eight persons are intrastate returnees from Bengaluru (seven residents of Shivamogga and one from Dharwad). Four patients were suffering from SARI (severe acute respiratory infection) while another two were suffering from ILI (influenza like illness). Among the districts, Udupi reported the most new cases at 73, Bengaluru city reported 28 cases and Kalaburagi reported 24 new cases.  Officials in Udupi told TNM that the surge in cases could continue for a few more days since more than 3,000 samples are pending results in the district. In the last two weeks, more than 8,500 people have returned from other states, particularly from Maharashtra, and from abroad. Among other major affected districts now are also Hassan and Shivamogga, which reported 16 and nine cases respectively. Bengaluru continues to remain the most affected with COVID-19, with total cases rising to 385 and total deaths at 11. Considering only active cases, Yadgir is the worst affected with 257 COVID-19 patients, followed by Mandya with 224 cases, and Udupi with 196 cases. Raichur is the next worst affected with 179 active cases. 

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Karnataka reports cases of people testing positive for COVID-19 after quarantine time

Coronavirus

Two people tested coronavirus positive in Dakshina Kannada on Sunday after they had finished their institutional quarantine period and had returned home.

Prajwal Bhat

PTI : Image for representation

Two men aged 50 and 42 respectively tested coronavirus positive on Sunday after they finished their seven-day institutional quarantine in Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka. They had returned from Qatar and Malaysia respectively. After they returned home from the quarantine facility, the duo’s samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and they were admitted to a designated COVID-19 hospital in Mangaluru. This is not the first time this is happening. A man in Dakshina Kannada who was released from institutional quarantine on the night of May 29 was admitted in a hospital the next day after his coronavirus test results came out positive at midnight.  In another case, a man who had completed his quarantine period and returned to his home in Belman in Udupi was later admitted to a hospital after his test result returned positive on May 31, three days after his release from institutional quarantine. A similar sequence of events repeated for a person in Belapu in Udupi district.  However, authorities are still investigating and compiling if there are other cases of people testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 after finishing their stipulated institutional quarantine period.  The incidents come after a change in Karnataka’s quarantine policy based on guidelines issued by the Central government. While earlier guidelines stated that people will be released from institutional quarantine only after their test results have returned negative, people are now being released to quarantine themselves at home before their test results are out. "Those who finish the quarantine period were allowed to leave without waiting for results. They were stamped and asked to remain in home quarantine for a stipulated period of time," Dakshina Kannada DHO Ramachandra Bairy told TNM. The duration of quarantine depends on various factors such as whether the person is coming from a high-risk state or country. "People in institutional quarantine were allowed to leave even though they were awaiting their COVID-19 test results. Whoever is positive, we are bringing them back and admitting them in designated hospital," Dr Prashant, Nodal officer for COVID-19 cases, in Udupi said.  These instances have compelled district officials in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada to not only keep track of the people quarantined in their districts but are also to check up on those who have completed their quarantine duration in the past week. Concerned by the developments, Ramachandra Bairy told TNM that authorities in the district will not allow people to leave institutional quarantine before their test results are out. "There are people who argue to be released but we have decided that in our district, we will be on the safer side and wait for the test results to come before releasing people from institutional quarantine.” Earlier in April, a man who returned to Kozhikode in Kerala from Dubai tested positive for the virus at the end of his 28-day isolation period. Following this, four other cases emerged in Kerala with similar trajectories. 

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BBMP official who was in contact with Padarayanapura corporator tests positive

Coronavirus

BBMP Chief Health Officer told TNM that this officer was one of the three BBMP officers who were in quarantine after they were found to be in touch with Pasha.

TNM Staff

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A BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) official on Monday tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19 after he came in contact with Imran Pasha, the JD(S) corporator of Padarayanapura ward. The corporator was confirmed to have contracted the infection on Friday. This development incidentally comes a day after an FIR (First Information Report) was registered against Pasha for violating physical distancing norms and other related offences. The officer had reportedly come in contact with Pasha on Friday the same evening when he was informed that he had tested positive, sources said.   BBMP Chief Health Officer Dr Vijayendra told TNM that this officer who was on deputation in the BBMP was one of the three officers who were in quarantine. He confirmed many of Pasha’s other contacts including Chamrajpet MLA and former minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan have already tested negative. Sources further said that the education department building has been shut down and fumigation, sanitisation measures are being undertaken. Further health department officials are also being scrutinised for symptoms. As reported on Sunday, Pasha was booked by Jagajeevanram Nagar police after a  complaint was filed against him by the BBMP health department officials for not cooperating. BBMP West Health Officer Dr Manoranjan Hegde had told TNM that Pasha was asked to be admitted on Friday night itself but he was not cooperating with officials. He had further made officials wait when they brought an ambulance to take him to designated COVID-19 hospital on Saturday. Even while getting on to the ambulance he had greeted and waved at his supporters. A video of the same had gone viral over social media platforms on Sunday attracting scathing criticism. Pasha was booked for negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life, disobedience of quarantine rule and provisions of the National Disaster Management Authority Act. It may be recalled that the ward had become the centre of news after violence broke out when a section of the residents—- contacts of already infected patients did not want to be taken to an institutional quarantine facility. At that time, the number of COVID-19 patients in the ward was 11 including four tablighi jamaat attendees. Presently till Monday morning the ward has 67 cases (25 active cases) including five persons who were arrested for the violence.

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States brace for disasters as pandemic collides with hurricane season

Emergency management officials fear a terrible combination of natural disasters could lead to a fresh spread of the coronavirus.

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Bengaluru has 32 containment zones, six new zones in last two days

Coronavirus

On May 30, the number of containment zones in the city was 26. This number increased with the rising number of cases in Bengaluru.

TNM Staff

Six new containment zones have been identified in Bengaluru in just a span of two days and this is largely due to the rise in the number of cases in the city. In just three days, 67 new cases were reported in Bengaluru. The largest spike was on May 30, where 33 cases were reported in the city. With a total of 357 cases and 115 active cases in the city, officials say that they expect the numbers to increase and thus, so will containment zones, BBMP officials say.  “The number of cases is expected to increase due to the ease in restrictions in the next few days,” said Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner BH Anil Kumar.  BBMP’s figures state that 41% of all the active cases in Bengaluru were reported in Shivajinagar after a 42-year-old housekeeping staff of a hospital tested positive for the novel coronavirus. So far, 57 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Shivajinagar alone, all of which were primary or secondary contacts of the housekeeping staff, otherwise known as P653.  Padarayanapura, one of the first wards to be declared a containment zone, has the second-highest number of active cases at 22% of the total active cases in the city.  “The situation does not seem to not improve in Padarayanapura. We are doing a lot of randomised tests here and more and more people are testing positive. Right now, we don’t know how many malls are in containment zones because the rules have changed. But if they are, they won’t be allowed to open,” said Dr Manoranjan, BBMP Health Officer for West Zone.  With the increasing number of COVID-19 cases, there will be a restriction on opening commercial establishments in these areas as well. Except for Shivajinagar, Mangammanapalya, SK Garden, Padarayanapura and Hogasandra, all other 27 containment zones in Bengaluru do not have more than five cases of COVID-19.  The government has decided to open malls, religious institutions and places of worship and other commercial establishments, except for movie theatres and bars and restaurants inside malls, from June 8. “Since the number of cases is expected to go up, commercial establishments in these areas will also not be allowed to operate. The task is to identify contacts quickly, which is the challenge,” Anil Kumar added.   

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‘No rebellion, BJP govt will complete its term in Karnataka’: Dy CM Ashwath Narayan

PolItics

Deputy CM Ashwath Narayan made the statement in response to reports of brewing discontent in the party ranks.

TNM Staff

File photo

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan said on Sunday that no one would be able to destabilise the BJP government in Karnataka and it will complete the remaining three-year term. "Nobody can destabilise the government...it is stable. We will complete the remaining three-year term. In the future also, our party will remain in power," Dr Narayan, who holds the portfolio of Higher Education, IT and BT, Science and Technology, told reporters in Mysuru. He added that the recent events were due to the “minor aspirations” of some leaders. “In our party, there is no room for disgruntlement. If they have demands, they can speak to the CM,” he is reported to have said, as per the Deccan Herald. He was reacting to a question on a group of MLAs meeting at the residence of Ramesh Katti, who is keen on a Rajya Sabha entry in the coming biennial polls, and some reportedly expressing dissatisfaction at the way of functioning of Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa. The MLA for Vijayapura, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, one of those who attended the meeting, had expressed unhappiness over not getting his works done despite representations to the Chief Minister. Dr Narayan said there is no scope for rebellion or anti-party activities in the BJP. "There will be expectations, but so far as our party is concerned, there is no scope for such things (rebellion or anti-party activities). There are only discussions with the Chief Minister regarding various demands of the legislators,” Dr Narayan said. No one in the party in Karnataka would cross the "Lakshman Rekha," he said. Meanwhile, the Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah said that the BJP government would “fall due to infighting” and that “No Congress MLA is going to resign,” in response to a statement made by the Water Resources Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi. Jarkiholi had said that he could get some of the opposition MLAs to resign. Inputs from PTI

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