Karnataka to launch app for COVID-19 patients to find available hospital beds

Coronavirus

The BBMP War Room and the state war room are in the process of gathering data for the app, which will be ready to roll out by July 6.

TNM Staff

Representation photo

Over the last week, two incidents were reported in Bengaluru, where COVID-19 patients died before they were able to get treatment, as many private hospitals turned them away. With patients struggling to find hospital beds, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike is slated to release an application, which can be used to identify the areas where the patients are located, and by patients to identify available beds in hospitals and nearby care centres.  Speaking to TNM, head of the BBMP's War Room, Hepshiba, said that over the last four days, the BBMP has been in the process of executing plans to implement the new system of identification. "Over the last three to four days, we were in the process of getting all the updates from hospitals to implement the plan. We have an index application to make process flow simple," she said. Index is a type of database that the app is based on. "Whatever new scenario arises, we want to be able to identify the problem and tools available to ensure smooth implementation. We are developing an application based on AI (artificial intelligence) for this," Hepshiba added.   The new AI-based application will be able to detect the zone where a patient with COVID-19 resides, and once the patient enters their details, ascertain whether the patient should go to a COVID-19 hospital – including private hospitals – or a COVID-19 Care Centre. "The BBMP Commissioner has also directed all zonal-level officers to set up call centres for COVID-19 patients. The call centre will be monitored by the BBMP War Room. These call centres will be able to identify the areas, ward, street and direct people to the necessary hospital or COVID-19 Care Centre. In the application, people will be able to enter their details and also call the zonal call centres for queries," Hepshiba said.  The BBMP plans to launch this application by July 6, she added.  Further, the Karnataka State War Room is also in the process of rolling out a mobile application for patients in other districts to track and find hospital beds. “It will be like a cab service app, where people can have access to ambulances to get to a hospital, and to book a hospital bed,” a senior Health Department official said. The tentative launch is set for July 6 or later next week. The app will verify the list of COVID-19 patients with ICMR’s database of persons with COVID-19 and allocate beds accordingly, the official added.  “We have the information about all hospitals, ambulances and the database of patients. This will be a primary database along with call centres. There will be real-time allocation of beds in various facilities. People will also be able to find hospitals on the app. They will have both options of calling the centre and using the app,” the senior official said. 

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32 Karnataka students who wrote SSLC exams test positive for coronavirus

Education

SSLC exams were held between June 25 and July 3.

TNM Staff

File photo

Fourteen students in Karnataka, who sat for the SSLC exam have tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Friday. As per a press release from the Karnataka government, a total number of 32 SSLC students, who took exams between June 25 and July 3 have tested positive for the coronavirus. Eighty other students are in home quarantine. As of July 3, more than 7.60 lakh students wrote the exam, with 14,745 absentees. The report from the government stated that 3,911 students did not attend the exams as they were in a containment zone. A total of 863 students had not attended the exams as they were unwell. Last week, a Class 10 student from Hassan had tested coronavirus positive. The student reportedly wrote an exam on June 25, despite having taken the coronavirus test. His positive result reportedly came shortly after he finished writing the exam. The SSLC exams which were earlier scheduled between March 27 and April 9 were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In May, the Karnataka government announced that the exams will be held between June 25 and July 3. The government had added that hand sanitisers will be provided to everyone in the examination hall and classrooms will be sanitized every day.  Temperature checks will also be done for everyone entering the exam hall by the health department, the government had said. The Karnataka Education Department had also allowed students from containment zones and those with COVID-19 symptoms in the state to write their SSLC exams in a separate room from other students. Students who had gone back to their hometowns due to the lockdown were allowed to take their exams from the closest centre.  

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Bengaluru Sunday curfew: Essential services to operate, restaurants open for home delivery

Coronavirus

However, the police are urging restaurants and grocers to shut shops if they want to remain closed on Sunday.

TNM Staff

Representation photo

The Bengaluru Police has issued a strict warning against those who come out of their homes and violate the curfew, which will begin at 8pm on Saturday and continue till 5am on Monday.  Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao urged residents of the city to “stay at home and break the chain.” “We have not imposed an extended lockdown as it will hurt many people. This is just  for one day of the week. It will be exactly like lockdown in March and April but only for one day of the week. People cannot say they do their shopping on Sunday and want to step outside. Stepping outside must be avoided until absolutely necessary,” Bhaskar Rao said.  He further stated that restaurant and grocery store owners can voluntarily shut their shops during the curfew. "We are urging them to close voluntarily on Sunday. People can stock essentials on Saturday and remain at home," he added. The curfew will begin at 8pm on Saturday and continue till 5pm on Monday of every week till August 2. Essential services will be open. Grocery stores, kirana shops, newspaper delivery and restaurants will be open only for home delivery. Bars and pubs will be closed, theatres, shopping malls and other commercial establishments apart from essential services will remain shut during the curfew.  “People should stay at home and even avoid going to the grocery stores. They can stock up on Saturday. We are imposing this curfew for their own good and people should cooperate. Dunzo and Swiggy services will be available but people must refrain from using it as much as possible. Let’s stay at home and break the chain,” Bhaskar Rao added.  He further stated that police personnel would be deployed at every major junction and main road, just like Lockdown 1.0 in March and April. He further stated that vehicles of those who come out during the curfew would be seized and the violators will be booked under Disaster Management Act 2005.  “Even if people have to come out for emergencies like going to the hospital, they should wear masks and gloves. We are only urging people to adhere to our request as it is for their own good,” he added.   

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Karnataka HC expunges judge's controversial remarks in rape case

Court

Justice Krishna Dixit had stated that it is unbecoming of Indian women to fall asleep after rape. The observation earned him severe flak.

TNM Staff

The Karnataka High Court’s Justice Krishna S Dixit on Friday expunged his observations made in a bail order in a rape case after the state government filed a petition requesting the same while stating that the court’s observation would affect the probe adversely. Justice Krishna Dixit had observed in a bail order granted on June 17 that it was “unbecoming of a woman to fall asleep after rape”. Justice Krishna Dixit was hearing a rape case of a 42-year-old HR manager, where the woman is said to have fallen asleep after the incident of rape occurred. The woman had filed a complaint with the Rajarajeshwari Nagar Police and an FIR was registered under sections 376 (rape), 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code as well as Section 66-B of Information Technology Act 2000. “The explanation offered by the complainant that after the perpetration of the act she was tired and fell asleep, is unbecoming of an Indian woman; that is not the way our women react when they are ravished,” Justice Krishna Dixit had observed.  His remark had drawn criticism from lawyers, activists and journalists across the country. The state government later filed a petition requesting that the four sentences in the bail order be expunged as it could adversely affect the investigation.  “Taking note of the contents of respondent-State’s application which is supported by the accompanying affidavit and also the No Objection tendered by the petitioner-accused thereto, I deem it appropriate to expunge the last four lines occurring in para No. 3(c) at page 4 of the subject judgment dated 22-06-2020, as sought for at para 5 of the said Application, the rest having been retained intact,” Deccan Herald quoted Justice Krishna Dixit’s order passed on Friday.  According to TOI, Justice Krishna Dixit also observed on Friday that his earlier observation in that bail order would not affect the investigation in any way.  “It hardly needs to be stated that the observations made by this court in the subject judgment being confined to consideration and disposal of the bail petition shall not influence in any way investigation of the offences alleged and the likely trial thereof,” TOI quoted Justice Krishna as saying. Read: ‘Narrow, patriarchal’: Open letter criticises Karnataka HC judge’s observations on rape

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Bengaluru man with COVID-19 dies on road after waiting hours for ambulance

Coronavirus

The incident took place in Hanumantha Nagar in South Bengaluru.

TNM Staff

A 65-year-old man, who tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Friday, collapsed and died on the road outside his house while he was waiting for an ambulance to arrive.  Speaking to TNM, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Commissioner BH Anil Kumar said that the man, who was a resident of Hanumanatha Nagar in South Bengaluru, was walking from his home to the end of the road, where an ambulance was waiting when he collapsed and breathed his last.  #bengaluru #bengalurumodel#KarnatakaCovidHorror Man who tested #COVID19India positive calls up ambulance. Comes out with his clothes to get admitted. Even after three hours ambulance doesn't come. He collapse due to breathlessness and die. @Nithya_Mandyam @shreyas_ToI pic.twitter.com/AUTM8KNb3h — Kiran Parashar (@KiranParashar21) July 3, 2020 "The man got his test results on Friday morning. His family had been trying to arrange for a private ambulance since noon on Friday. He had packed all his clothes and was waiting inside the house. But the ambulance was not available. BBMP received a call by 3.45 pm. Around 6 pm, his family was able to arrange for an ambulance. The ambulance arrived at the end of his street by 7 pm," BBMP Commissioner BH Anil Kumar said. BBMP officials claim that the man wanted to walk to the end of the road and board the ambulance as he did not want the vehicle to come near his house. “He was scared of what his neighbours would say and what they would talk about his family if they found out that he had COVID-19,” a senior BBMP official said.  BBMP officials say that the man may have suffered a cardiac arrest while he was walking towards the ambulance. A passerby was the first one to rush to the man’s rescue, who is now a primary contact, TOI reported.  Anil Kumar said that the spot inspection was done by the police within an hour of the man’s death. His body was taken to Victoria Hospital and an autopsy is slated to take place on Saturday morning, before being buried as per the COVID-19 burial protocol.  “It was a miscommunication due to which the ambulance did not reach the spot on time. Action will be taken against those found guilty of lapse in this case,” Anil Kumar added.   

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Bengaluru reports 994 new COVID-19 cases in highest single day spike

Coronavirus

Karnataka also recorded 21 new deaths due to COVID-19.

Alithea Stephanie Mounika

PTI/New Delhi

Karnataka reported a total of 1,694 new COVID-19 patients on Friday, taking the state’s tally of active cases to 10,608. The state for the first time, has surpassed 10,000 active cases. Karnataka has so far reported a total of 19,710 cases. Bengaluru Urban reported 994 new cases on Friday, the highest on a single day. The number of patients currently being treated in the state capital is 6,297. The source of infection in most of these cases are yet to be traced.  Meanwhile, Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), the city bus service stated that the total active cases amongst their staff is 36, as of the latest information on Friday evening. Other districts all reported less than 100 cases each. Ballari and Dakshina Kannada each reported 97 new cases. Kalaburagi reported 72 new COVID-19 cases, and Tumakuru reported 57 patients. Bengaluru Rural for the first time reported a relatively large number of cases for the district, reporting 44 new patients and taking the total active cases in the district to 156. In Dharwada, 38 new patients tested positive for the novel coronavirus, while Mysuru reported 35 cases and Mandya 33. Other districts reported cases less than 30 each. As per the bulletin, 471 patients were discharged on Friday, taking the total discharges in the state to 8,805 patients who recovered from the virus. Bengaluru reported the highest number of discharges, at 121. Karnataka also reported 21 new deaths due to COVID-19. This takes the death toll in Karnataka to 293. Bengaluru Urban reported 5 deaths. Chikkaballapur and Kalaburagi saw 3 deaths each. Vijayapura reported 2 people succumbing to the virus. Raichuru, Bidar, Davangere, Hassana, and Shivamogga each reported one death. Also Read: Dakshina Kannada cops divide duties as COVID-19 cases among cops rise

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Cycling the new normal in Bengaluru, sales shoot up after lockdown

Cycling

Activists who have been urging fellow citizens to take up cycling too say that they are pleased with the development.

Alithea Stephanie Mounika

Pic: Padma Naveen

Pointing to a surge in the demand for bicycles, several shops in Bengaluru are reporting a shortage of cycles. Residents wanting to shift to the healthier form of transport are finding that most models of bicycles are sold out at many of the city’s cycle retailers. Meghana Ranjith, a resident of the city who lives in KR Puram, says that she recently took up cycling to ensure she stays fit. “When you’re staying at home all the time, health issues crop up, like back pain, stress and even lethargy. When you cycle early in the morning, your body feels fresh and you feel active,” she says.  Meghana says she found it hard to find one. “We went to many showrooms to get cycles. All their geared cycles were sold out. The showrooms said that they wouldn’t get restocked soon, and if orders were placed (with manufacturers) for a hundred cycles, they would get only about 20-30 percent of that. In fact, the people at the showroom were urging us to buy normal cycles and retrofit the gear system.” Life Behind Bars Cycles or LBB for short, a boutique bicycle store in Indiranagar, has sold out all the models in their store. LBB specialises in imported bicycles, and most of the models in their store are high-end models.  Shariq Rahman, the owner of LBB says, "There are no cycles left in the country! After the lockdown lifted, we had so much sales that we have completely sold out our cycles. We even do bike servicing for high end bikes, and have seen new customers, who are bringing in their older bikes. Now we have placed orders for new bikes, which are set to come from Taiwan, but delayed in imports. We expect to get them by August.” When asked why there was such an increase in demand, Shariq says, “People have realised that things are not to be taken for granted. We don’t just sell bikes, it’s a lifestyle of living differently.” Padma Naveen, who is part of a cycling group called “The Cyclones” in KR Puram, says that since the lockdown, they have been using their cycles a lot more. “This is a way to get exercise and be in a community, while also maintaining physical distance and wearing masks. I have found that there has been an increased interest in cycling, and our group, which had only four members before the lockdown, now has ten new people who have bought cycles and joined us. A few of our members have gone up to the Bengaluru airport and come back, a journey of 60 kms up and down.” Padma says that her husband has joined the club, and that they go out cycling on weekends as a family, with their teenage daughter. Babu, the store manager at Decathlon in Indiranagar says that higher end models got sold out first.  “We don’t have space in our store so we have display pieces, based on which we take orders and deliver. But the godown has no stock of three gear cycle models anymore.” “We have about three models for children, and the high end model is sold out. We have about ten models for adults, and two high end models for them too, have been sold out, surpassing our sales projections. The next supply for these models will come only in September, especially as manufacturing has been hit.” Anil from Cycle Works in Kalyan Nagar says that about 10 to 15 models are out of stock at their store. “We’ve seen an increase in demand and many models are out of stock. As far as children’s cycles are concerned, this is expected. This is the season for buying cycles, especially as children get their exam results and parents fulfil their promises, one of which is buying them bicycles. Now that the lockdown is lifted, we are seeing more customers,” he told TNM. Even Crankmeister Bicycle Works in Cox Town, a bicycle tuning store, is witnessing increased customer footfall. “Compared to pre-lockdown days, we have definitely seen an increase in demand. We sell only a few cycles, but we’ve been seeing more demand for cycle components (parts), bike service, and demand for our bike fit service,” Monica from Crankmeister says. She notes that people are probably getting their cycles out more. “Due to the lockdown restrictions people can’t go very far, and people who already had cycles are coming in for a tune-up. People who have unused cycles are coming in for a bike fit, which is a service to get the cycle more tuned to the cyclist’s body measurements, depending on their leg and torso lengths.” Padma says that all this has made her hopeful that more people will take to cycling. “I am crazy about cycling. I used to cycle once a month to work. My office is 15 km away, in Whitefield. Now that we have gone 30-35 km, the distance to the office looks a lot less now. Maybe I will look at cycling more often, when things return to normal.” Activists who have been urging fellow citizens to take up cycling too say that they are pleased with the development. Dasarathi GV, a city-based activist, says, “I notice that there’s a sudden increase in the number of adults cycling for pleasure in my locality over the past couple of months. I suspect it’s because they have more time at home and the roads have fewer automobiles. I only hope some of these people graduate from using bicycles for pleasure to using them as a regular mode of transport.” 

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