Karnataka to study long term effects of COVID-19 in those recovered

COVID-19

The panel will evaluate those who had mild and severe symptoms, especially people with comorbidity.

TNM Staff

File image of Dr K Sudhakar

The Karnataka government on Sunday announced that it will form a high-level technical committee of medical experts to study the long-term effects of COVID-19 among those who have recovered from the illness and tested negative for the virus.   In a tweet, State Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar said, "Karnataka will constitute a special technical committee of medical experts to study the long term effects of COVID-19 in patients who have recovered from the infection." The panel will evaluate those who had mild and severe symptoms, especially people with comorbidity. New strategies would be drawn up for clinical care to ensure that those who recovered from the viral infection do not develop any health complications in the future, the minister noted. Karnataka has so far reported 5.11 lakh infections and 7,922 deaths till Saturday evening. Incidentally with this, the number of COVID-19 recoveries in Karnataka so far crossed the 4 lakh mark on Saturday, as the state reported 8,364 new cases of coronavirus and 114 related fatalities. In Bengaluru Urban, recoveries were also more as 4,180 got discharged than 3,733 fresh cases registered, while 33 died of the infection during the day. "Of the 1,91,438 positive cases across the city so far, 41,434 are active after 1,47,378 were discharged, while death toll rose to 2,625 till date," said the bulletin. Of the 822 patients in the intensive care units (ICUs) across the state, 255 are in Bengaluru hospitals, followed by Dharwad 91, Ballari 70 and Hassan 62. Among the districts which reported higher number of cases, Mysuru had 626, followed by Dakshina Kannada 432, Gadag 391 and Ballari 310. Of the discharged patients in the districts, Mysuru reported 1,018, Hassan 599, Mandya 412, Uttara Kannada 407, Dakshina Kannada 404 and Kalaburagi 352.

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Karnataka to study long term effects of COVID-19 in those recovered

COVID-19

The panel will evaluate those who had mild and severe symptoms, especially people with comorbidity.

TNM Staff

File image of Dr K Sudhakar

The Karnataka government on Sunday announced that it will form a high-level technical committee of medical experts to study the long-term effects of COVID-19 among those who have recovered from the illness and tested negative for the virus.   In a tweet, State Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar said, "Karnataka will constitute a special technical committee of medical experts to study the long term effects of COVID-19 in patients who have recovered from the infection." The panel will evaluate those who had mild and severe symptoms, especially people with comorbidity. New strategies would be drawn up for clinical care to ensure that those who recovered from the viral infection do not develop any health complications in the future, the minister noted. Karnataka has so far reported 5.11 lakh infections and 7,922 deaths till Saturday evening. Incidentally with this, the number of COVID-19 recoveries in Karnataka so far crossed the 4 lakh mark on Saturday, as the state reported 8,364 new cases of coronavirus and 114 related fatalities. In Bengaluru Urban, recoveries were also more as 4,180 got discharged than 3,733 fresh cases registered, while 33 died of the infection during the day. "Of the 1,91,438 positive cases across the city so far, 41,434 are active after 1,47,378 were discharged, while death toll rose to 2,625 till date," said the bulletin. Of the 822 patients in the intensive care units (ICUs) across the state, 255 are in Bengaluru hospitals, followed by Dharwad 91, Ballari 70 and Hassan 62. Among the districts which reported higher number of cases, Mysuru had 626, followed by Dakshina Kannada 432, Gadag 391 and Ballari 310. Of the discharged patients in the districts, Mysuru reported 1,018, Hassan 599, Mandya 412, Uttara Kannada 407, Dakshina Kannada 404 and Kalaburagi 352.

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Deve Gowda not allowed to finish his maiden speech in Rajya Sabha, JD(S) calls it an insult

Politics

The former PM was making his maiden speech as a newly elected member of the Rajya Sabha on Sunday.

TNM Staff

Former Prime Minister of India, HD Deve Gowda took oath on Sunday as a member of the Rajya Sabha. This, after he lost the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from the Tumakuru constituency and his party nominated him to the Upper House. But his maiden speech as the newly sworn-in member of Rajya Sabha was marred with constant interruptions and the Speaker of the House, Deputy Chairman Harivansh, also urged him repeatedly to conclude 10-minute speech, even asking the next speaker to start while Deve Gowda was still speaking.  His party, JD(S) took strong umbrage to the incident and called it an insult to Karnataka. Speaking to TNM, TA Sharavana, JD(S) spokesperson said, “There are just two former two Prime Ministers in Rajya Sabha, Manmohan Singh and Deve Gowda. Kannadigas are not getting respected anymore, even in the committee for culture constituted, there were no south Indians. The Union Government takes Karnataka for granted, the state gave them 25 MPs but still they don't have any concern for us.” Deve Gowda started his speech talking about farmers issues viz-a-viz the contentious farm bills in the Parliament. While Gowda was talking about his experience as a politician handling issues of farmers, by the fourth minute, the Speaker started asking him to conclude his speech. Many members of the ruling government too were heard heckling the 87-year-old Deve Gowda, asking that he wrap his speech.  “It is great that even at this age, he is there to represent our state. The Union government and the BJP MPs did not even allow him to deliver his speech and express his opinions. They kept asking him to stop talking and sit down, kept interrupting. This is not just an insult to Deve Gowda, but to all Kannadigas. This is why we ask the voters to always vote a regional party to power, we have always taken up issues that are important to the people of the state and not succumb to high command pressure like other national parties.” added Sharavana. Earlier in the day, Deve Gowda had taken oath in Kannada and greeted the chair with folded hands. The 87-year-old leader, was in June elected to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka. This is the first time that the JD(S) leader has become a member of the Upper House since 1996. Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu had remarked after Deve Gowda's swearing-in-ceremony that he is a "good addition to our House". "Former prime minister and one of the senior-most leaders of our country has come to our House," he said.

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The mystery of the Bengaluru woman who went missing from an ambulance 2 weeks ago

Missing

Her family does not buy the version that she left without informing her family.

Prajwal Bhat

PTI : Image for representation

More than two weeks after a woman in Bengaluru's Bommanahalli disappeared a few hours after her family was informed that she 'tested positive for the coronavirus', police officials investigating the case are yet to trace her.  Her in-laws who have repeatedly asked the police for an update in the investigation have now enlisted family members to canvass the streets to look for her in her last known location in New Delhi.  Anusha* (name changed) left in a private ambulance on September 4. Her family was informed that she had tested positive for the coronavirus and was being taken away to be quarantined. "The people who came to take her away did not allow her to carry her phone. When we asked them if she could be quarantined at home, those who took her away said that she was in the second stage and that she had to be admitted in a hospital," explains Vikas Kumar, brother-in-law of Anusha. The incident occurred a day after rapid COVID-19 tests were conducted near their residence in Bommanahalli, Vikas says. The family was informed that Anusha will be admitted in Prashant Hospital near their house. "But when we later asked officials at Prashant Hospital, we were told that there was no such patient admitted. Knowing something had gone wrong, we decided to approach the Bommanahalli police station with a complaint on the same day (September 4)," says Vikas. An FIR was registered in the Bommanahalli Police Station however, the search for the missing woman has not gone according to the plan, alleges the family. "We are still searching for her but we have been unable to find her. She called the police inspector from a location in Govindpuri, New Delhi on September 8," says Vikas. The call made from Delhi During the call, Anusha reportedly said that she would not be returning to her in-laws because of a conflict. "We want to speak to her because if there is a conflict, she can speak to my brother or our family and she does not have to create this situation," says Vikas. "She said that her husband didn't look after her well and that she was abused by her husband," Ravishankar added.  The same was reiterated in a 'fact-check' published by Karnataka police. "The police investigated the event and found that the complainant and his wife had a dispute and his wife had planned the exit from the house with assistance of her friend and later on 08-09-2020 a call from the missing lady landed on the phone of investigating officer which was recorded," reads the statement by the police. "The missing lady said she was safe and would sort out the matter with her husband. Hence neither is it connected to BBMP nor to COVID-19 testing. The twist given to the story is misleading and mischievous," added the post.  So where is Anusha? Ravishankar, the police inspector at Bommanahalli police station who is investigating the case, says that the ambulance which picked Anusha up was not a COVID-19 ambulance. "The ambulance was not from any hospital. According to her, this ambulance was being driven by someone known to her. She has left her phone behind but it has come to our notice that she had another phone through which she contacted us and her husband," says Ravishankar.  Ravishankar says that Bengaluru police had informed its counterparts in New Delhi about the case and we have shared messages asking people to report when she is found.  Anusha's brother-in-law Vikas agrees that the voice in the call was Anusha's, but they don't buy the version that she left without informing her family. They suspect she may have been kidnapped. "She is still missing over two weeks after the incident. We have told the police to investigate two people from Bihar whose names have come up in the investigation. The police has to investigate if she was pressurised to make the call on September 8," he says.  

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Coastal Karnataka receives 793% excess rainfall in last 24 hours

Karnataka rains

Heavy rains have caused floods in many low-lying areas, resulting in widespread damage of crops and property, and even one rain-related death.

Soumya Chatterjee

Persistent heavy rainfall in coastal and Malnad (central) in Karnataka in the last 24 hours caused floods in many low-lying areas, resulting in widespread damage of crops and property. One man is confirmed to be dead in Mangaluru after a wall collapsed due to the heavy rains.  According to rainfall data maintained by the Karnataka State Disaster Monitoring Centre, Malnad as a whole received 367% excess rainfall for the period of 24 hours, between 8.30 am on Saturday and 8.30 am on Sunday. For the same duration, coastal Karnataka received excess rainfall of 793%. Kodi station in Udupi received the highest rainfall with 414.5 mm rainfall followed by Irodi station (in Udupi) at 411.2 mm of rainfall. Manoj Rajan, Commissioner of the Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), said heavy rainfall around midnight took place in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. “There was some flooding in urban areas in Udupi where we have been pumping out water since morning. Similarly, there have been damages to houses in rural areas as well. We immediately responded to the situation and rushed one NDRF (National Disaster Relief Force) team from Dakshina Kannada district and another team from Mysuru has also been taken there. One helicopter has been kept on standby in case there is a need for rescue operations,” he told TNM. Taluk-wise Udupi in Udupi district received the highest rainfall in the state in the last 24 hours with 399 mm rainfall, followed by Kapu (296 mm) and Karkala (293 mm) in the same district. Sunil M Gavaskar, a meteorologist at the KSNDMC, said the condition will remain the same with the coastal and Malnad areas receiving heavy rainfall in the coming days as well. “Till September 22 (Tuesday), this current conditions of active to vigorous rainfall will continue due to one low-pressure area formed over the north-east Bay of Bengal. The low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal is pulling the moisture from the Arabian Sea, and that is why abundant moisture is hitting the west coast. So regions along the west coast, including neighbouring states, are receiving heavy to extremely heavy rains,” Gavaskar told TNM. In its daily forecast, the Indian Meteorological Department has also warned that “heavy to very rainfall with isolated extremely heavy rainfall is very likely to occur over Coastal Karnataka and South Interior Karnataka”.  Among the districts, too, Udupi received rainfall of 197 mm (1541% excess) rainfall, followed by Dakshina Kannada at 135 mm (1142% excess) rainfall. The coastal Karnataka received excess rainfall throughout the past week.  As a whole, for the last seven days (September 14-20), Udupi (396 mm, 395%), Dakshina Kannada (283mm, 316%) and Uttara Kannada (115mm, 111%) — the three districts that form the coastal belt — have together received 212% excess rainfall. 

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Under the cloud of COVID-19, 8-day Karnataka Assembly session to begin on Monday

Politics

While an eight-day session has been scheduled by the Speaker, Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah has demanded that the session be extended.

PTI

File image

An eight-day monsoon session of the Karnataka legislature will begin on Monday under the shadow of COVID-19 pandemic. The session will commence amid unprecedented safety measures and restrictions, as several Ministers and legislators have tested positive for the infection. The session is likely to be stormy with the Opposition eyeing to corner the BS Yediyurappa-led BJP government on a host of issues, including management of the pandemic, which has affected over 5.11 lakh people in the state. The principal opposition party, Congress, has also decided to raise issues such as the DJ Halli violence, drugs scandal, law and order situation and the state's financial situation during the session, slated to end on September 30, Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri has made it mandatory for all, including members, officers, staff and journalists, to undergo RT-PCR test for COVID-10, 72 hours prior to the start of the session. According to the legislature secretariat, both the assembly and the Legislative Council will meet at 11 am. The session had to be convened before September 23 in view of the Constitutional provision that the legislature has to meet at least once in six months. The budget session was cut short and adjourned sine die on March 24 in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak with the state reporting 41 positive cases and one death at the time. As of September 19, cumulatively 5,11,346 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 7,922 deaths and 4,04,841 discharges. As part of preventive measures in the legislature, seats of members are separated by transparent shields. Attendees will also have to wear face shields and follow the preventive measures for coronavirus. While public will not be allowed entry, the press gallery has been shifted to the second floor. Deputy Chief Minister CN Ashwath Narayan on Saturday joined the list of Ministers who have tested positive for COVID-19. Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Food and Civil Supplies Minister K Gopalaiah were infected earlier last week. Several legislators from both treasury and opposition sides have also tested positive. There are 10 new bills, 19 ordinances and two bills pending from the previous session that are likely to be taken up during the session. Pointing to this, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah said the time fixed for the session will not be enough and it needs to be extended. The senior Congress leader and former chief minister is likely to raise it during the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting slated for Monday morning ahead of the commencement of the session. The party has alleged corruption in procurement of medical equipment and is likely to raise the issue on which both the opposition and the ruling BJP have locked horns in the past. The session is taking place at a time when there is speculation in some quarters that the BJP central leadership is mulling to replace 77-year-old Yediyurappa, considering his age. Yediyurappa, meanwhile, is awaiting the high command's nod to go ahead with the expansion or reshuffle of his Cabinet, despite fears of possible disgruntlement, with too many aspirants and limited ministerial berths.

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BJP Karnataka chief Nalin Kumar Kateel calls for closure of pubs and bars in Mangaluru

Politics

Sources in the Karnataka CM’s office confirmed to TNM that the demand is not being considered by the government.

Pooja Prasanna

Courtesy: PTI

“I told the Commissioner of Police yesterday that we should shut down all pubs in the district. It's ruining youngsters,” declared the BJP Karnataka president, Nalin Kumar Kateel, speaking to party workers in Dakshina Kannada. Thus far, his comment has not received support either from the district administration in Dakshina Kannada or the BJP government in the state. “In our time we stopped operation of clubs. If the government doesn't take a decision, I'll urge the youth wing to take appropriate legal action,” Kateel added amidst applause from his audience. TNM spoke to sources in the Karnataka CM’s office, on whether the demand made by Kateel on closure of pubs in the coastal city is being deliberated. We were told that no such formal request has come to them. The source also confirmed that the CM has not even considered closure of pubs in Mangaluru or elsewhere in the state. After Unlock 4, the Karnataka government has allowed restaurants, pubs and bars to reopen with precautionary measures. Kateel is no stranger to controversies and openly wears his Hindutva brand of politics on his sleeves. Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he had said, “Nathuram Godse had killed only one person-Mahatma Gandhi. Former Prime Minister Rajeev Gandhi had killed 17,000.” But despite this, months later, he was promoted from an MP to Karnataka BJP President, replacing BS Yediyurappa. In another instance, Kateel had threatened a police officer in the district, demanding the release of BJP party workers who were arrested. He had also once said that he would set the district on fire if his party workers were not released. Kateel was elected to Lok Sabha from Dakshina Kannada district in 2009, in the backdrop of the infamous pub violence that took place in Mangaluru. Since then, the three-time MP has made several contentious statements on moral policing, cow slaughter, love jihad etc. Kateel has been issued notices too for his remarks, latest one for his statement on Rajeev Gandhi. But beyond that, no action has been taken against him by the party. 

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