The study is based on antibody tests of about 16,000 people conducted between late March and early May.
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Tuesday, July 21, 2020
'Not a rupee misused in procuring COVID-19 equipment': BS Yediyurappa responds to opposition
Yediyurappa invited opposition scrutiny of government’s handling of the pandemic
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Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, on Tuesday, denied allegations leveled by the opposition regarding misuse of funds in procurement of equipment for COVID-Care facilities in Bengaluru. During his address to the people, via his social media platforms, Yediyurappa told the opposition leaders that the state government has not misused any funds. "I request opposition leaders like Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar and HD Kumaraswamy, to ask any information they want and we will try and give the information to you within 24 hours. In the procurement of COVID-19 equipment, not even a single rupee has been misused," Yediyurappa said. Leader of Opposition, Siddaramaiah, had alleged a scam to the tune of Rs 2,200 crores in procurement of COVID-19 care facilities like beds, test kits and ventilators. Read: 'PPE, ventilators bought at high prices': Cong accuses BJP of misusing funds in K'taka He clarified that an amount of Rs 4.23 Crores per month will be spent on 6,500 beds as well as items like cot, mattress, fan, bucket, mug and dustbin at a rate of Rs. 7,500 per set. Yediyurappa stated that Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike(BBMP) officials had decided to take essential items required for the COVID-19 Care Centre at Bangalore International Exhibition Center(BIEC) on rental basis at a rate of Rs.800 per day per bed. This would have cost a total sum of Rs 24 crores per month. "As soon as the matter of taking all items on rental basis came to my knowledge, I instructed the concerned officials to rectify the mistake, failing which strict action will be taken. As per my instructions, the authorities have taken immediate steps to buy the necessary items and this has prevented the wasteful expenditure on unnecessary renting of items," BS Yediyurappa said. "The rental rates were high and it is possible to buy these items within the rented amount. Later on, these items can be used by the Government-run hostels” Yediyurappa added.
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COVID-19: Bengaluru reports 1,714 cases and 22 deaths on Tuesday
Karnataka reported 3,649 cases, taking its total tally of active cases to 44,140
Bengaluru reported 1,714 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday. With 520 people discharged after recovery, the total number of active cases in the city is 26,746. Deaths related to COVID-19 went up to 720 in the state with 22 people succumbing to the virus in one day. Overall, Karnataka reported 3,649 cases and 61 deaths on Tuesday. With 1,664 people discharged after recovery, the state has 44,140 active cases and a death toll of 1,464. A media bulletin released on Tuesday evening said that a total of 43,904 tests were conducted in the day, out of which 23,885 were RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests and 19,328 were antigen based kits. The test results of 4,475 samples are awaited. Seven districts reported more than 100 cases, which included Kolar (103), Hassan (107), Uttara Kannada (109), Yadgir (117), Mysuru(135), Dakshina Kannada (149) and Ballari (193). Among the 44,140 patients undergoing treatment, a total of 583 persons are being treated in intensive care units (ICU). Authorities said that 336 out of the 583 are from Bengaluru while Kalaburagi has 36 such patients. No other district in the state has more than 25 patients. Of the 61 deaths reported on Tuesday, only four patients were not designated as Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) or Influenza like illness (ILI) patients. Among these, 27 people were aged over 60. Only 12 people were reported to not have any comorbidities. The state government said that most of the deceased patients had hypertension, diabetes and chronic kidney diseases.
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'Drone' Prathap violates home quarantine, shifted to institution by Bengaluru cops
Prathap is referred to in the media as 'Drone Prathap' for claiming he built 600 drones. But two of his claims have been debunked by German and Japanese companies which clarified that they built the drones he is posing with.
Prathap NM, photograph by BillzEye
Prathap NM, a resident of Bengaluru, was arrested on Monday for allegedly violating home quarantine norms. Rohini Katoch, Bengaluru South Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), told TNM that Prathap was picked up by a team of police officials from Mysuru on Monday. He was placed in institutional quarantine in Bengaluru. "He was supposed to be in home quarantine so he has been handed over to BBMP officials now. Once the institutional quarantine period is over, we will finish the arrest formalities. It is a bailable offence but he should first finish his institutional quarantine period of two weeks," Rohini told TNM. Prathap had recently travelled from Hyderabad to Bengaluru and was directed by officials to remain in home isolation at Talaghattapura in Bengaluru. However, he violated the norms by leaving his house to go to the studio of a private television channel to give an interview. He was missing since Saturday but he was tracked down by police officials on Monday to a lodge in Mysuru's Mandi Mohalla area. His father convinced Prathap to cooperate with officials. He was using a different mobile number which was not registered with officials for the quarantine process. Prathap is referred to in the media as 'Drone Prathap' for claiming to have extraordinary achievements including the claim that he built 600 drones at the age of 22. His claims were even published by many news organisations which stated that he had built 600 drones from e-waste. However. he is yet to prove his achievements and in a television interview with BTV, he showed a photograph of him posing with a drone as proof of his work when he was questioned by the anchor. This can be watched at around the 33-minute mark of this video. A German company BillzEye issued a statement on July 17 that the drone shown by Prathap was in fact built by BillzEye and exhibited at CEBIT 2018, Hanover Exhibition Center. The statement by Bill Gutbier, owner of Germany-based BillzEye, stated that Prathap asked questions about the drone and requested if he could click a photograph with the drone named 'BETH-01'. Bill clarified in his statement that Prathap had nothing to do with the design, development, manufacture or distribution of the drone and that it was constructed and manufactured by his company. He said that he can prove it by sharing many documents, Computer-aided design (CAD) files and photographs. Prathap had earlier claimed he was awarded the “Albert Einstein Innovation Gold Medal” at CEBIT 2018 held in Germany. Several news organisations reported this achievement without verification and are now making changes to their story after receiving clarifications from the organisers of the event. This is not the only instance Prathap has claimed to build a drone that was not his. On his Instagram page, he shared a photograph of himself posing in front of a drone. However, upon examination, the logo of Japanese-based ACSL was visible. A Reddit user wrote to officials in ACSL to enquire whether Prathap was involved in building the drone. The user shared the response given by ACSL COO Satoshi Washiya which stated that the drone in the image was built completely in-house by ACSL. Another claim which went viral on social media last week suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had 'inducted' Prathap into the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The claim backed up by infographics created by fake news portal Postcard News was circulated on social media sites. Prathap himself admitted that this news is fake in a video posted on his Instagram account. However, he said that the news debunking his claims of building drones is also fake. "I don't have any background and I come from a farmer's family. I know what I am. Regarding all the news stories, I will give answers along with documents at the appropriate time and place," he said in the video.
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Karnataka to allow asymptomatic COVID-19 students to write K-CET exams
Karnataka government issues physical distancing guidelines for COVID-19 positive students to write K-CET exams
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The Karnataka government, on Monday, decided that it will allow asymptomatic COVID-19 students to appear for the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (K-CET) 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic induced delays, the exams will now be held on July 30 and 31 this term as opposed to the first week of May as previously announced. “For COVID-19 positive candidates, there shall be a separate examination center/ room, as per availability. The room shall have natural ventilation. Hand sanitizers shall be made available at entry points and other appropriate places. Disposables glasses for drinking water shall be made available,” a standard operating procedure issued for this purpose read. “Strict physical distance of three feet is to be maintained at all times. Seating arrangement shall be such that at least three feet distance is maintained between the candidates. Liquid soap for hand washing shall be provided in the toilet,” it added. CET is the common exam held for engineering and architectural courses in the state’s government colleges for students who have passed or appeared in the pre-university (PU-II) exams. The decision to allow asymptomatic COVID-19 positive students to appear for exams came after a meeting led by Deputy Chief Minister Dr CN Ashwath Narayan held with the concerned officials of the Karnataka Examination Authority. Dr Ashwath Naraya, along with others, also holds the Higher Education portfolio. The standard operating procedure has been issued by the department following the decision. As part of the SOP, all students and staff in charge of the examination have to follow hand hygiene guidelines. Under the guidelines, for conducting examinations, for COVID-19 positive candidates. It was said, “In view of the ongoing COVID -19 pandemic, no candidate who is COVID positive shall be denied the opportunity to appear in the online examinations (computer based). The following guidelines shall be implemented in coordination with the local health authorities i.e. District health officer/ District surveillance officer, Chief health officer-BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike).” The SOP further mentioned that after the examination, the room shall be disinfected thoroughly with 1% sodium hypochlorite solution and subsequently the room shall be cleaned and can be used after 24 hours. Across Karnataka, 1.94 lakh students had enrolled to appear for K-CET exams but due to the pandemic, the dates for the same had not been announced till the first week of July.
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No lockdown in Bengaluru from July 22: CM BS Yediyurappa
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Tuesday urged the people of the state to follow COVID-19 guidelines of wearing masks, maintaining physical distance, as he announced that the lockdown for Bengaluru won’t be extended
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Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Tuesday urged the people of the state to follow COVID-19 guidelines of wearing masks, maintaining physical distance, as he announced that the lockdown for Bengaluru won’t be extended. “I want to make it clear, no lockdown in Bengaluru from tomorrow. People continue with their work as per usual. Henceforth in Bengaluru and any part of Karnataka there will be no lockdown except in containment zones,” the CM said in a video address which was broadcasted live. ‘There were a few officials who were in favour of continuing lockdown in some districts and Imade it very clear to them that henceforth, there should be talk of another lockdown. Ensure everybody wears masks and resume their normal activities’ “I fold my hands and tell the people of this state that lockdown is not the solution. The solution is wearing masks, maintaining distance and how strictly this is followed, it will help stop the spread of COVID-19. In this situation, if we want to live, we have to maintain distance and wear masks. Everyone must do this while walking, going to parks and all other situations,” the CM added He acknowledged the suggestion given by experts and said the 5Ts strategy - Trace, track, test, treat technology - will help stop the spread of the virus. He said for every COVID-19 positive patient, 47 contacts were traced in the state. On the issue of rising complaints of patient denied treatment, the CM claimed the process to admit COVID-19 patients, people with other illnesses in hospital beds has been smoothened in the state. He also claimed that “Among infected persons, 5% need ventilators or ICU. In Bengaluru, 11230 beds were allocated for COVID-19 patients. 4336 beds in private hospitals, 2624 beds in CCC, less than thousand in govt hospitals. To admit patients, a real time dashboard was readied. There is no need for the public to worry and the government is putting all its efforts, Private medical colleges have ratified the issues by holding discussions. All private hospitals have agreed to give beds and join hands with the government.” the CM said. He added, “There were a couple of cases of suicides. I am telling you that most people are recovering and I pray to people to not think of turning to suicide.” The lockdown which is due to be lifted on Wednesday at 5 am was announced by the CM on July 11. According to the announcement Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural districts went on a total lockdown from 8 pm on July 14 to 5 am on July 22 will go for a total shutdown. Only stores selling essentials were allowed to remain open between 5 am to 12 pm. The announcement had come in the wake of successive days of Bengaluru city reporting 1,000-plus cases. During the lockdown, the city saw three consecutive days of 2,000-plus cases incidentally Till Monday evening, the city has 25,574 activ COVID-19 patients. Presently, there are 6160 containment zones in Bengaluru of which 2014 are in Bengaluru South.
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Bengaluru to see waterlogging, flooding of low lying areas, warns IMD
Weather agencies have forecast rains ranging from scattered light to moderate and isolated heavy rain for Bengaluru for three days.
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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday issued a low risk impact-based forecast for heavy rainfall over Bengaluru city and its neighbourhoods for Tuesday and Wednesday. Weather agencies have forecast rains ranging from scattered light to moderate and isolated heavy rain for Bengaluru for three days. As per IMD’s report, Tuesday and Wednesday will very likely witness a few spells of rain and thundershowers. Localised waterlogging, temporary flooding of low lying areas, slippery roads and possible impact of unmaintained buildings and structures can be expected following the rains, the IMD document said. It suggested effective regulation of night traffic and a watch over low lying areas. Sunil M Gavaskar, meteorologist at the Karnataka State Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSDMC) said isolated, scattered light to moderate rains are likely to occur over the Bengaluru city area on Tuesday. He added, the forecast for the next two days ending 8:30 am on Thursday is “fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rains and isolated heavy rain” over parts of Garden City. In a note he said, “KSNDMC rainfall forecast available as on Tuesday at 3:15 pm valid till ending at 08:30 am of Wednesday: Scattered to widespread light to moderate rains and at isolated places heavy rains very likely over Chikkaballapura district and light to moderate rains likely over Kolar, Banglore (Bengaluru) Rural, Chamarajanagar, Chitradurga, and Mandya districts from South Interior Karnataka region and Raichur and Belagavi districts from North Interior Karnataka region and Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts from Coastal region. Isolated to scattered light to moderate rains likely over remaining districts of the state.” The IMD in its daily weather report said that the southwest monsoon is active over interior Karnataka and weak over coastal Karnataka. Rainfall occurred at most places over the state. The report said rains and thunderstorms are very likely to occur at many places over the state for the next 48 hours. According to the report, Chitradurga received the highest rainfall in the state with 7 cm on Monday. Three places in the state—-Bellatti( Gadag), Raichur, Kalghatgi (Dharwad) received 5 cm of rainfall each.
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