BJP MLA Rajkumar Telkur from Karnataka, two family members get COVID-19

Coronavirus

The MLA, his wife and son are currently at an isolation facility at a private hospital in Bengaluru.

TNM Staff

BJP legislator from Karnataka’s Sedam constituency, Rajkumar Patil Telkur, tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Thursday. In addition, his wife and son have also tested positive. MLA Rajkumar Telkur and his family members are currently lodged in a private hospital in Bengaluru. Speaking to TNM, Rajkumar Telkur said that neither he nor his family members have any symptoms. “Four days ago, my PA (personal assistant) and another employee of mine tested positive. My family members and I were his primary contacts and we were quarantined. Our samples were taken for testing and they returned positive. We were in Bengaluru when this happened, so we were admitted to a private hospital here,” he said.  The MLA urged his constituents to not be worried as he is currently asymptomatic. “My only request to people is not to get scared. I’m completely fine. I only urge everyone in Kalaburagi and my constituency to take all precautions, wear masks and gloves while stepping out and also maintain physical distance,” he added. Two days ago, Mandya’s Member of Parliament, Sumalatha Ambareesh, tested positive for coronavirus. In addition, Kunigal MLA HD Ranganath also tested positive. On June 3, Mangaluru North BJP MLA Dr Bharath Shetty tested positive. On July 5, former BJP Minister Janardhan Poojary was confirmed to have COVID-19 and earlier in June, Congress MLA from Gandhinagar, Dinesh Gundu Rao, and his wife Tabassum also tested positive. As of Wednesday evening, there were 16,527 active COVID-19 cases in Karnataka of which 435 are in Kalaburagi district. This district also witnessed the first death due to COVID-19 in the country earlier in April.

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Bengaluru still has no real-time database of number of beds available for COVID-19

Coronavirus

Such a system was proposed to be set up around a week ago, but there is still no real-time information about the number of beds available in Bengaluru.

Soumya Chatterjee

Representational image/PTI

Days after the administration in Bengaluru had promised to make data on the number of beds, a system is yet to be made public. This even as the Karnataka High Court asked the state government to make public the data of COVID-19 beds within Bengaluru, along with details of oxygen and the ventilator beds available. Speaking to TNM, Hephsiba Rani Korlapati, who is in charge of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike COVID-19 War Room, said it would take some more time before the website can go live for the public. “We have readied the website partially. We are using it for our necessary internal monitoring in the zonal level and for coordination purposes. This website went live 3-4 days ago and now every hour, we are identifying improvements that have to be made and we are upgrading accordingly. We are doing necessary tweakings to make it suit our needs,” Hephsiba told TNM. “Right now, we are working on it to make it open to the public. Over the last few days, considerable progress has been made. It is to be decided how and when and how the public can be given access to the system will be looked at,” she added.  Randeep D,  Special BBMP Commissioner, and part of the team working on this website said it will take at least a day’s time to integrate their system with the system put in place for patients availing government subsidy. “We are waiting for integration with SAST (Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust) portal which will take one more day's time,” Randeep told TNM. It may be recalled that the Karnataka High Court bench led by Chief Justice AS Oka on July 6 had taken suo motu cognisance of the hardships faced by patients over the lack of availability of beds. Read: Karnataka HC takes suo motu cognisance of hardships faced by COVID-19 patients Speaking earlier with TNM, Dr Giridhar Babu, an epidemiologist working with the Public Health Foundation of India, expressed his disappointment over the extent of technology usage in real-time bed allocation for COVID-19 patients. “A realistic mapping of beds with a real-time allocation should be aided by technology. When we need the apps most, they are not there,” he told TNM. With the crisis surrounding lack of adequate medical infrastructure with the rise in COVID-19 cases in Bengaluru, it was announced that capacity of 180 beds will be added as a BBMP building will be transformed into a hospital. "Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) building on the broadway road in Shivajinagar is being developed as a full-fledged COVID hospital," said Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar. The minister inspected the facility on Wednesday for which Infosys Foundation is providing the necessary infrastructure at a cost of Rs 30 crore. "The hospital will be functional in another 10 days," said Sudhakar. Initially, 180 beds with high flow oxygen lines will be available in the hospital, which can also be converted into ventilator facilities when needed. Equipped with 30 ventilators, the new hospital will have neurosurgery and cardiology operation theatres and CT scan facilities. Later, Sudhakar also visited Bowring and Lady Curzon hospitals to inspect the facilities and interacted with patients through videoconferencing. (With IANS inputs)

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Karnataka PU-II results to be declared around July 20: Education Min

Education

Karnataka Education Minister Suresh Kumar tweeted this after many students sought to know if the results will be out on Thursday (July 8).

TNM Staff

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Karnataka Education Minister S Suresh Kumar on Thursday announced that the results for the second pre-university examinations (PU-II) will be out only around July 20. He tweeted this saying that many students have called him asking if the results would be out on Thursday itself. He tweeted, “Many students are calling me to know whether Second PUC results will be announced Today.  I once again inform all that Second PUC results will come out around 20th July.” Many students are calling me to know whether Second PUC results will be announced Today. I once again inform all that Second PUC results will come out around 20th July. — S.Suresh Kumar, Minister - Govt of Karnataka (@nimmasuresh) July 9, 2020 Reacting to the tweet, one student stated that many students want the KCET (Karnataka Common Entrance Test) or Consortium of Medical Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK) exams to be postponed as well, just like NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test)  and JEE (Joint Entrance Examination ). The student added that many students are residents of containment zones and holding an exam now will deprive them of an equal opportunity. It may be recalled that the PU-II examinations of the Karnataka state board were almost completed before the Karnataka government decided to impose the COVID-19 induced lockdown. While all other examinations were over between March 4-24, the English examination had to be postponed. The English paper was held on June 18 after close to three months from the originally scheduled examination date as the lockdown restrictions were eased following national guidelines. The examinations were held following extended lockdown guidelines like wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing. Sanitizers were also arranged for students and staff involved in the exercise. More than 6 lakh students appeared for the English examinations after they were screened for temperature and checked for COVID-19 symptoms. Incidentally, one student from Bengaluru who appeared for the examination was tested after she was put in quarantine as her father tested positive for the coronavirus. She had subsequently tested negative.  Speaking on this, Suresh Kumar had clarified that the student did not violate quarantine norms herself.        

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'All you need is strong will power’: 96-yr-old woman recovers from COVID-19 in Karnataka

Coronavirus

According to health officials, 96-year-old Govindamma along with her son, daughter-in-law and grandson were admitted to a hospital with fever and sore throat on June 25.

TNM Staff

Screenshot

A 96-year-old woman in Chitradurga has recovered from the coronavirus infection, the second such instance of a nonagenarian in Karnataka getting cured of the disease. Last month, a 99-year-old woman in Bengaluru had fully recovered from COVID-19 and returned home. According to health officials, 96-year-old Govindamma along with her son, daughter-in-law and grandson were admitted to a hospital with fever and sore throat on June 25. The 27-year-old grandson tested positive for coronavirus followed by his 62-year-old father and 58-year-old mother. Later, the grandmother too, was found positive. All of them were cured and discharged on July 6. Later, Govindamma told reporters that there was nothing to fear about the virus. "All that you need is a strong will power," she said. ಕೋವಿಡ್ ಗೆದ್ದುಬಂದ ಚಿತ್ರದುರ್ಗ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ ಹಿರಿಯೂರಿನ 96ರ ಹರೆಯದ ಹಿರಿಯರಾದ ಗೋವಿಂದಮ್ಮನವರಿಗೆ ಅಭಿನಂದನೆಗಳು. ತಮ್ಮ ಧೈರ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ಜೀವನೋತ್ಸಾಹಗಳಿಂದ ಅವರು ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಜನರಿಗೆ ಆದರ್ಶರಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಅಂಜಿಕೆ ಅಥವಾ ಆತಂಕದಿಂದ ಕೊರೋನಾ ಗೆಲ್ಲಲಾಗದು. ಆತ್ಮವಿಶ್ವಾಸ, ಸೂಕ್ತ ವೈದ್ಯಕೀಯ ಶುಶ್ರೂಷೆಗಳಿಂದ ಕೊರೋನಾ ಸೋಂಕಿನಿಂದ ಗುಣಮುಖರಾಗಬಹುದು. pic.twitter.com/OGSrZ9gTdQ — Dr Sudhakar K (@mla_sudhakar) July 8, 2020 Sharing her success story, Karnataka Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar tweeted, "I congratulate Govindamma of Hiriyur in Chitradurga who defeated COVID. She has set an example to the people of Karnataka by her enthusiasm and courage." The minister said one cannot defeat coronavirus with fear and panic. "Self-confidence and proper treatment is the only way to recover from the infection," he added. Karnataka currently has 16,527 active COVID-19 cases of which 10,103 are reported in Bengaluru. The state and in particular, its capital city of Bengaluru, has reported a sharp spike in cases in July.

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Red warning issued in Kodagu after IMD predicts heavy rains

Weather

The District Disaster Management Authority and the Kodagu district administration have now asked people to be watchful in the district and avoid venturing out in heavy rains.

TNM Staff

Kodagu DC Annies Joy (pictured left) discussing the preparedness for the monsoon

A red warning has been issued in Kodagu district of Karnataka following a forecast of very heavy rains on Thursday and Friday by the Indian Meteorological Department. The hilly areas of the district located in the Malnad region of Karnataka have reported rainfall throughout the week, The Hindu reported. The District Disaster Management Authority and the Kodagu district administration have now asked people to be watchful in the district and avoid venturing out in heavy rains. A red warning asks officials to take action  A minor mudslide disrupted traffic on the Bhagamandala-Talacauvery Road. After a team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel worked with earth movers to clear the mud, vehicular movement was restored on the same night. The road connecting Napoklu from Bhagamandala in the district was flooded. Bhagamandala had recorded 135mm rain till 8 am on July 7. The water level at Triveni Sangam is rising. Farmers in the district have also tilled their fields to transplant paddy seedlings ahead of the expected showers, Deccan Herald reported.  Water levels in the major reservoirs in the Cauvery basin too, have increased, figures released by the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) stated. This was attributed to the rainfall reported in the Cauvery catchment areas in Kodagu.  In case of emergencies, the public can reach the district control room on 08272-221077 or 8550001077 (WhatsApp number). Two years ago, Kodagu reported record rains leading to landslides in 34 areas of the district which led to the loss of 21 lives and displaced over 7,000 others. In 2019 too, landslides were reported in the hilly district, particularly in Thora village.

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BBMP turns Bengaluru hospital into dedicated maternity centre amid spike in COVID-19

This comes following many pregnant women testing positive for coronavirus at some point when they visited government hospitals for healthcare.

TNM Staff

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has designated one of its hospitals as a dedicated maternity centre, following many pregnant women testing positive for coronavirus at some point when they visited government hospitals for healthcare, a health department official said on Wednesday. "It has come to our notice that many pregnant women (during ANC/Natal/PNC period) who are seeking healthcare at our hospitals as outpatient or inpatient report as Covid positive at some point of time," said a health official. When a carrying woman tests positive after visiting a hospital, the civic body or the government is compelled to shut it down temporarily for sanitisation, interrupting health services. To address this concern, the BBMP has created a dedicated maternity hospital in Wilson Garden area of the city. "Wilson Garden hospital (24 beds) to serve as a dedicated maternity hospital in Bengaluru to successfully treat the 'mother to be' in this Covid situation," said Health Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pandey. This was also announced by Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar. ಕೋವಿಡ್ ಪ್ರಕರಣಗಳ ಏರಿಕೆ ಹಿನ್ನಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ, ಬಿಬಿಎಂಪಿ ವ್ಯಾಪ್ತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಗರ್ಭಿಣಿ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರಿಗೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಸುರಕ್ಷತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹೆರಿಗೆಗೆ ಅನುಕೂಲ ಒದಗಿಸಲು, ಓ.ಟಿ ಸೌಲಭ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿರುವ 24 ಹಾಸಿಗೆಗಳ ವಿಲ್ಸನ್ ಗಾರ್ಡನ್ ಹೆರಿಗೆ ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆಯನ್ನು ಕೋವಿಡ್ ಶಂಕಿತ ಗರ್ಭಿಣಿ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರ ಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆಗೆ ನಿಗದಿ ಮಾಡಲಾಗಿದೆ. @BSYBJP pic.twitter.com/R6QqylKgOH — Dr Sudhakar K (@mla_sudhakar) July 9, 2020 He issued the orders on the directions he received from the civic body's Commissioner. According to government guidelines, throat swab collection from pregnant women is happening 15 days before their expected date of delivery. "Due to practical difficulties, either the swab collection is done late or report arrives later or the pregnant woman gets admitted at our hospital before the Covid status is known," said the official. Though such cases are being handled by BBMP referral hospitals and maternity homes, the official said there is still a need to designate one hospital as a dedicated one for better compliance and to avoid simultaneous closure of hospitals for sanitisation. Amid surging infections in Bengaluru, many pregnant women are seeking treatment in government or BBMP hospitals for safe confinement and delivery. On Wednesday, Karnataka reported 2,062 COVID-19 cases, more than half of which, were reported in Bengaluru. Overall, Bengaluru accounts for 10,103 out of the total 16,527 active cases in the state. The city has reported a surge in cases since the start of July.

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Racial disparities follow pandemic’s path across political divide

No matter where the virus strikes, communities of color bear the brunt.

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