BBMP has not published list of containment zones in Bengaluru for days

Coronavirus

BBMP officials say that the reason is due to sudden spike in cases, due to which they need time to map the containment zones.

TNM Staff

Representation photo

Over the last two weeks, Bengaluru's civic body -- the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, has stopped listing out the containment zones in the city in its daily COVID-19 reports. The last list of containment zones published on the website was on June 15, where there were 191 containment zones in the city. The wards were listed on daily bulletins released to the media, but that too stopped after June 24 when there were 477 containment zones in the city. Since then, the number of containment zones have steadily increased with 520 containment zones in Bengaluru as of Friday. However, the BBMP has not published details about the areas where these 520 containment zones are located.  "We are still in the process of tracing primary and secondary contacts of the persons, who have tested positive. Since the numbers are increasing significantly everyday, it is taking time to map the containment zones. However, we do have a list of wards where there are more than 15 cases in each of these wards," BBMP Commissioner BH Anil Kumar said. As of Thursday evening there were 5505 active cases in Bengaluru. Anil Kumar further stated that South Zone has the highest number of containment zones with over 120, followed by West Zone, which has over 100 containment zones. East zone has around 90 containment zones, Bommanahalli has around 75 containment zones, while Mahadevapura, Yelahanka, RR Nagar and Dasarahalli have around 65, 55, 30 and 10 containment zones respectively. "These are rough estimates. We will furnish a detailed list of containment zones as soon as it has been mapped ward wise," a senior BBMP official said.  Data from the BBMP war room, states that Shantala Nagar had 30 containment zones on Thursday evening, followed by Singasandra with 29 new containment zones. Jayanagar is reported to have 22 new containment zones, while Dharmaraya Swamy Temple ward had 21 new ones.  Overall, there are 21 wards in Bengaluru which have over 10 containment zones as of Thursday.  37 % of the total containment zones are located in South zone, 20% in East Zone, 17% in West Zone,  12%  in Bommanahalli, 5% each in RR Nagar and Mahadevapura zones, 3% in Yelahanka and 1% in Dasarahalli.   

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2BydIqI
via IFTTT

35 acres of land in Bengaluru outskirts marked for last rites of COVID-19 victims

Coronavirus

Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru Urban District GN Shivamurthy issued an order setting apart about 35.5 acres in the villages under four taluks

PTI

Representational image/PTI

Over 35 acres of land in nine villages on the outskirts of Bengaluru city have been earmarked for burial or cremation of bodies of COVID-19 victims in the backdrop of safety concerns raised over funerals held in burial grounds located amidst residential areas. Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru Urban District GN Shivamurthy issued an order setting apart about 35.5 acres in the villages under four taluks of Bengaluru North, Bengaluru South, Anekal and Yelahanka. The order directed the respective Tahsildars to register these chunks of land as reserved for burial grounds and not to use for any purpose. According to the sources in the district administration, Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu and Revenue Minister R Ashoka had directed the officials to identify places on the city outskirts to dispose of the bodies of COVID-19 victims. Sriramulu had on Wednesday said COVID-19 victims would not be laid to rest in burial grounds in the city and separate places will be earmarked on the outskirts in the backdrop of safety concerns raised by public. He had also warned against unscientific disposal of used Personal Protection Equipment kits worn by the kin of the dead for the final rites, referring to reports about such instances. In some places, people have also expressed concern over bodies of those who died of the coronavirus being buried in their neighbourhood. As of Wednesday, Karnataka has 16,514 COVID-19 cases and the death toll stood at 253. This development came a day after Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu said this would be done to address safety concerns of the public. It may be recalled how recently a viral video had emerged from Ballari showing questionable behaviour from staff handling the burial of COVID-19 victims and had led to a probe instructed by the Deputy Commissioner. Later a similar video of COVID-19 victims in Yadgir district emerged which showed officials being laid to rest in an undignified manner.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2ZsZYFE
via IFTTT

New diet plan for COVID-19 patients in Karnataka: Here’s how it looks

Coronavirus

This comes after many raised complaints about the food given to COVID-19 patients at hospitals in Bengaluru and other parts of the state.

TNM Staff

PTI : Image for representation

The Karnataka government has issued orders to provide quality and nutritious food to COVID-19 patients receiving treatment in designated hospitals, an official said on Thursday. The order comes after complaints were raised about the food given to COVID-19 patients at hospitals in Bengaluru and other parts of the state. "Aimed at improving the immunity power in COVID-19 patients, they shall be provided with quality and nutritious food on time, as suggested by dieticians," said Jawaid Akhtar, Health Secretary of Karnataka.  According to the new order, breakfast will be served at 7 am, lunch at 1 pm and dinner at 7 pm. Here’s the new diet chart for COVID-19 patients:  Breakfast  Monday: Rava Idli Tuesday: Pongal Wednesday: Set Dosa Thursday: Rice Idli Friday: Bisi Bele Bath Saturday: Chow chow bath Sunday: Set Dosa Refreshments after breakfast Patients will be provided one fruit every day. Fruits such as watermelon, papaya and muskmelon will be served on alternate days.  Lunch All patients will receive roti, chapati, palya (a dish made with beans), rice, dal, egg and curd for lunch. Evening refreshment At 5 pm every evening, they will be served one banana and three cookies, two protein cookies, two dates and a mango bar for vitamin C. Dinner Dinner, which will be served at 9 pm, will consist of roti, chapati, palya, rice, dal and curd and flavoured milk. According to the health department, the new diet plan will benefit 8,194 COVID-19 patients undergoing treatment at designated hospitals across the southern state. With inputs from IANS

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2NQvJD5
via IFTTT

Karnataka issues guidelines for home isolation of COVID-19 patients

Coronavirus

Until now, COVID-19 patients were isolated at COVID Care Centres or in hospitals in the state.

TNM Staff

Image for representation

The Karnataka government has issued detailed guidelines for the isolation of COVID-19 patients at home. Until now, COVID-19 patients were isolated at COVID Care Centres or in hospitals in the state. But with the cases rising in Karnataka, health officials released guidelines for allowing patients who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms to be isolated at home. It followed the guidelines laid down by the centre on Thursday. The home isolation of COVID-19 patients will be only after the home is assessed by government health officials. Moreover, the patient's condition will be informed to the neighbours. The isolation will be done with the knowledge of the family members and the physician. "The patient shall have a pulse oximeter, digital thermometer and personal protective equipment (facemasks, gloves) to be used during home isolation," the guidelines laid down by the government stated.  After a patient receives the positive COVID-19 test report, health officials will assess the patient's condition and the condition of the house. If the patient is asymptomatic or exhibiting mild symptoms, they will be eligible for home isolation. The patients should be younger than 50 years of age and their oxygen saturation level should be greater than or equal to 95%. "If  the  patient  has  the  following  comorbidities - Hypertension, diabetes, obesity, thyroid disease; they shall be well managed and under good clinical control as assessed by medical officer/physician," the guidelines stated.  But patients with serious comorbid conditions like kidney diseases including patients on dialysis, heart diseases, stroke, tuberculosis, cancer, people living with HIV, immune-compromised, on steroids and immune-suppressants, etc. will not be allowed to isolate themselves at home.  Patients in home isolation should seek the advice of the monitoring health department staff when symptoms of COVID-19 emerge. The patient will have to follow a series of stringent instructions maintaining distance from others in the house, disinfecting surfaces and wearing a N95 mask at all times. Patients will be released from home isolation when they do not exhibit symptoms. It will also be 17 days after the onset of symptoms or date of sampling (for asymptomatic patients) and at least 10 days after fever subsides.  "There is no need for the RT-PCR/CBNAAT/True-NAT test after the home isolation period is over," the guidelines added.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2VEwzY8
via IFTTT

Senators concerned about Covid-19 vaccine price controls

Senators questioned top Trump public health officials at a Thursday hearing on vaccine pricing.

from Health Care https://ift.tt/2NTnw0Q
via IFTTT

Outside experts could decide who gets Covid vaccines first, NIH chief says

Federal officials may defer to the National Academy of Medicine.

from Health Care https://ift.tt/2VDGVau
via IFTTT

889 new COVID-19 cases in Bengaluru, contacts to be traced for most patients

Coronavirus

Karnataka reported 1,502 new coronavirus cases in the state on Thursday.

Alithea Stephanie Mounika

PTI/Chennai

Karnataka reported 1502 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the total active cases in the state to 9,406. The total cases so far reported in the state is 18,016. 889 new cases were reported in Bengaluru. Out of this, 872 cases have reported that the contacts are yet to be traced. A majority of the patients without known contacts are in Bengaluru, the data shows. On July 1, the state bulletin reported that 822 people had no known contacts. 90 COVID-19 cases were reported in Dakshina Kannada district on Thursday, while Mysuru recorded 68, Ballari at 65 and Dharwad at 47 COVID-19 cases. Karnataka reported 19 deaths in the state, taking total deaths in the state to 272. Four of the deaths were due to non COVID-19 causes. Ballari reported the highest number of fatalities, with four COVID-19 patients passing away. Three people have died in Dakshina Kannada district, while two deaths have been reported in Bengaluru. Udupi, Koppala, Mysuru, Hassana, Tumakuru, Belagavi and Uttar Kannada each reported one death. Kalaburagi reported one death, a 36-year-old man who had 'sudden loss of consciousness,' according to the bulletin. There have also been recent cases of political leaders testing positive for the virus. BJP MLA Bharat Shetty who represents Mangaluru North constituency, announced that had contracted COVID-19. "I have been tested COVID-19 positive. With all your blessings, I'm recovering and will be under treatment for few days. Requesting everyone to please maintain social distancing, wear a mask while going out and wash hands frequently. Please take care of yourselves and your near ones," he said in a tweet. Karnataka reported that 161 patients are currently in the ICU. Bengaluru reported 113 of the cases, while other districts showed less than 10 cases each. Meanwhile, 271 new recoveries were reported in Karnataka, taking the total recovered coronavirus cases in the state to 8,334 people who have been discharged.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2Zz4zGr
via IFTTT