Twenty-three sanitation workers in Bengaluru test positive for coronavirus

Coronavirus

Two sanitation workers in Deepanjali Nagar and Sunkenahalli wards of the city have reportedly died of the disease.

TNM Staff

photo bh Bhavani Seetharaman

Random testing for the novel coronavirus has resulted in 23 sanitation workers, called pourakarmikas, in Bengaluru testing positive for the virus. This development was confirmed by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner BH Anil Kumar in a video message on Saturday. He said 23 people out of the 94 pourakarmikas who were chosen as part of a normal sample have tested positive. The Commissioner said that all of them are undergoing treatment and given all necessary help. All the 94 sanitation workers who were tested were among south and west zones. This comes after two sanitation workers reportedly died of the disease recently in Deepanjali Nagar and Sunkenahalli wards.  The Hindu quoted lawyer and activist Clifton D’Rozario of the BBMP Pourakarmika Sangha who said that the random testing was a result of the pressure exerted by the workers post the demise of their colleagues. He also demanded that these workers be given protective gear including sets of personal protective equipment. Another lawyer-activist, Maitreyi Krishnan of the same association, who was quoted in the same report, said that while pourakarmikas were given masks and gloves a month ago, they have not been provided with a fresh supply. She blamed the lack of strict enforcement of waste segregation and management by the BBMP for being the root of the problem. She said this menace will continue until strict waste segregation is enforced. She said there were incidents of disposable masks being thrown as part of the mixed waste and she hinted there was a lapse in disinfecting the equipment used by them.  The New Indian Express reported the victim of the Deepanjali Nagar ward was also suffering from tuberculosis and his wife was also found to be coronavirus positive. The report quoted a BBMP official saying that other persons who were working with these workers had demanded that they be tested and now finding their primary and secondary contacts poses a new challenge. The official also stated that all the 23 pourakarmikas are asymptomatic and are mostly residents of Rayapura and Jagjivanram. They will be kept in the COVID-19 care facility set up at the Sri Sri Ravishankar Ashram.

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99-year-old COVID-19 patient recovers in Bengaluru

Coronavirus

Marceline Saldanha has become one of the oldest patients in Karnataka to recover from the disease.

PTI

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Amid COVID-19 pandemic, Karnataka govt transfers 13 IPS officers across state

Administration

PS Harsha, Commissioner of Police Mangaluru, has been transferred as DIG and Commissioner, Information and Public Relations (I and PR), Bengaluru.

IANS

File image

The Karnataka government has shuffled 13 senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers in a major rejig effected late on Friday amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, an official said Seemanth Kumar Singh, a 1996 batch Karnataka cadre IPS officer, currently in the role of Inspector General of Police (IGP), Administration has been transferred as IGP, Central Range, Bengaluru. Singh replaces KV Sharath Chandra, a 1997 batch Karnataka cadre IPS officer. In his new role, Chandra will function as the IGP, Administration, Bengaluru. PS Harsha, a 2004 batch IPS officer, currently in the role of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and Commissioner of Police Mangaluru, has been transferred as DIG and Commissioner, Information and Public Relations (I and PR), Bengaluru. Harsha replaces SN Siddaramappa. Similarly, Vikash Kumar Vikash, a 2004 batch IPS officer, currently in the office of DIG and Commander, Anti-Naxal Force, Karkala has been shifted as DIG and Commissioner of Police, Mangaluru, replacing Harsha. Siddaramappa, a 2005 batch IPS officer, currently in the role of DIG and Commissioner, I&PR, has been transferred as DIG, CID, Economic Offences Wing, Bengaluru, replacing K Thiyagarajan. Likewise, BS Lokesh Kumar, a 2005 batch IPS officer, currently in the office of DIG and Commissioner of Police, Belagavi has been moved as DIG, ISD, Bengaluru, a vacant role. Thiyagarajan, a 2006 batch IPS officer, currently in the role of DIG, CID, Economic Offence Wing, Bengaluru has been transferred as DIG and Commissioner of Police, Belagavi, replacing Lokesh Kumar. Suman D Pennekar, a 2013 batch IPS officer, working as the Superintendent of Police (SP), Kodagu district, has been transferred as Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), CAR (City Armed Reserve) Units, headquarters, Bengaluru, replacing Divya Sara Thomas. Harish Pandey, a 2013 batch officer, working as SP, Chikkamagaluru district has been transferred as SP, Intelligence, Bengaluru, replacing Hakay Akshay Machhindra. Thomas, a 2013 batch officer, currently in the role of DCP, CAR Units, headquarters, Bengaluru has been transferred as SP, Chamarajanagar District, replacing H.D. Ananda Kumar. Machhindra, a 2015 batch IPS officer, currently working as SP, Intelligence, Bengaluru has been transferred as SP, Chikkamagaluru, replacing Pandey. Similarly, Kshama Mishra, a 2016 batch IPS officer, currently in the role of SP, CID, Bengaluru has been posted as SP, Kodagu district, replacing Pennekar. Finally, HD Ananda Kumar, a select list 2015 officer, currently working as SP, Chamarajanagar district has been transferred as SP, ISD, Bengaluru. All of the police officers have been transferred with immediate effect.

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Spike in COVID-19 cases in Bengaluru, 596 new cases reported

Coronavirus

Officials are yet to acknowledge whether community transmission has started.

TNM Staff

Karnataka reported 918 COVID-19 cases on Saturday, the highest single day increase reported in the state. 596 cases were reported in Bengaluru taking the number of active cases in the city to 1913. Though the numbers have been going up steadily in the city, Saturday witnessed a sharp spike. Bengaluru reported 144, 113 and 173 cases in the previous three days. The high number of cases were confirmed in the state health department's daily bulletin listing the COVID-19 cases reported in the state. However, the bulletin on Saturday did not specify the details of travel and contact history of the patients.  Health officials are yet to acknowledge that community transmission has begun in Bengaluru. Community transmission is when people are infected with the virus without known contact with another confirmed case nor having travelled from a place affected by the pandemic.  The high case load was reported even though the number of tests done - 13,577 -  was lesser than the previous two days. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Karnataka rose to 11,923 of which 4441 are active cases.  The spike in cases in the state was reported even as Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa announced that a lockdown will be in place in the state on Sundays starting from July 5. In addition, the curfew currently in place from 9 pm to 5 am will be effective from 8 pm to 5 am starting on Monday.  Elsewhere, 49 new cases were reported in Dakshina Kannada district and 33 new cases were reported in Kalaburagi district.   As many as 197 COVID-19 patients in the state are currently in the ICU. Of this, 125 patients are in Bengaluru.  11 deaths were reported on Saturday including 3 patients from Bengaluru and 3 more from Bidar district.  The state health department is in the process of identifying more spaces in Bengaluru to be turned into COVID-Care Centres where asymptomatic patients will receive treatment.     

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Karnataka issues new guidelines: Curfew to begin at 8pm and full lockdown on Sundays

Coronavirus

This comes after the Chief Minister has said that there would not be a new complete lockdown in the state, ‘taking into consideration the economy’.

TNM Staff

CMofKarnataka on Twitter

The Karnataka government has issued new guidelines for the state as the number of COVID-19 patients increase steadily.  The government has said that the daily curfew would be imposed an hour earlier, from 8 pm to 5 am instead of the existing curfew from 9 pm to 5 am. Further, the government has stated that full lockdown would be imposed every Sunday, with effect from July 5, 2020 until further orders. No activities shall be permitted on that day except essential services and supplies. The government has also said that government offices will work on fewer days. From July 10 onwards, government offices will be closed for the weekend, and will work for only five days a week. This comes after the Chief Minister held a meeting with his officials on Saturday evening. In Bengaluru, the Commissioner, BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) has been directed to set up more smaller wholesale vegetable markets, to avoid crowding in the large wholesale vegetable markets of the city. The Bengaluru Urban District Commissioner was told to identify more places to conduct the last rites of dead patients. The Chief Minister has also directed the formation of teams to conduct the last rites. Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has directed officials to increase the number of ambulances to carry COVID patients. He has also ordered for separate ambulances for carrying the mortal remains of patients who pass away. He also directed that the police control room wireless system should be used to identify the location and the easy movement of ambulances. Yediyurappa directed officials to publish the details of nodal officers working on COVID Management. Further, it was decided to give additional responsibilities to the BBMP Joint Commissioners of the eight regions, and to appoint KAS officers to assist them to lessen the burden on the BBMP Commissioner and the central office of BBMP. The government has already begun to take necessary steps to reserve large marriage halls, hostels and other institutions in Bengaluru to make them into COVID Care Centres (CCCs, meant for asymptomatic coronavirus patients) and to avail railway coaches with beds as treatment centres. Officers were directed to have centralised bed allocation system to speed up the hospitalisation of COVID-19 patients. Previously, the BBMP Commissioner was directed to notify reservation of 50 per cent of beds in Medical colleges and private hospitals. He was also directed to notify tie up of hotels with hospitals to avoid any shortage of beds for treatment. Read: No question of fresh lockdown in Karnataka: BS Yediyurappa

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Foundation stone laid for 108-ft statue of Bengaluru founder Kempegowda at airport

Politics

Leaders cutting across political parties were present for the event marking the start of the construction of the statue.

TNM Staff

Work on installing a 108-feet statue of Bengaluru founder Nadaprabhu Kempegowda began near the international airport in the city on Saturday. The foundation stone for the statue was laid on the 511th birth anniversary of the city's founder. "Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa laid the foundation stone for the statue of city founder Kempegowda near the airport where a 23-acre central park will also be built around it as a star attraction to thousands of visitors flying in and out of Bengaluru," an official said. The Rs 80-crore statute will be built in a year for unveiling in 2021. Yediyurappa also unveiled a replica of the statute at the venue. The Bengaluru International Airport is also named after the city founder. Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, Congress state unit president DK Shivakumar, state Deputy Chief Minister CN Ashwath Narayan, state Revenue Minister R Ashoka and others were present on the occasion. "We are here for the laying of the foundation stone of the statue and without any party difference, we respect the decision to install this statue. (Deputy Chief Minister) Ashwath Narayan met leaders from other parties and convinced us to come here for the foundation ceremony under the leadership of Yediyurappa," Deve Gowda said speaking at the event. "The Chief Minister has decided to introduce Kempe Gowda to an international audience here. I appreciate this initiative and it has our complete support.  It is our duty to introduce Kempegowda to the world. We decided to start Kempe Gowda Jayanti on this day and now Yediyurappa has taken it forward by laying the foundation stone for the statue," Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President DK Shivakumar said. Adichunchanagiri Mutt pontiff Nirmalananda Swami, JSS Mutt pontiff Shivaratri Deshikendra Swami and Siddagagna Mutt pontiff Siddalinga Swamy graced the event. Born on June 27, 1510 in Magadi, Kempegowda built four towers in the north, south, east and west of the garden city, with a view to limiting its growth up to a point at 3,000-feet above the sea level. He also developed water bodies, including lakes and tanks for its supply to its people through the year. "The Nadaprabhu's birthday celebration is meant to educate the people on the founder's grand vision, planning and building a futuristic city. Kempegowda's development works, including building the city's infrastructure during his regime inspires us even after 500 years," said the official. "The state government will also develop Kempapura village in Magadi taluk, where Kempegowda's tomb is present, as a historical destination," said Narayan. The state's Infrastructure Development Corporation (Karnataka) Ltd will also develop Kempapura into an all-season tourist centre. A state-run board which is managing the restoration and protection of Kempe Gowda monuments in the state will oversee the statue's construction."The statue has been a long-pending demand of the people of Karnataka," asserted Narayan. A board that has been managing the restoration and protection of Kempe Gowda monuments in the state will oversee the statue. With inputs from IANS

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Class 10 student in Karnataka writing SSLC exams tests positive for coronavirus

Education

The student, who is writing the exams in Hassan district, also wrote his second examination on Saturday despite being tested for the virus.

Prajwal Bhat

Students waiting to write the SSLC examination in Bengaluru

A Class 10 student writing the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examinations in Karnataka has tested positive for the coronavirus.  The student, who took the board exams in Arkalgud in Hassan district, also wrote his second examination on Saturday, despite being tested for the virus. KG Jagadeesh, Commissioner of Public Instruction, confirmed to TNM that the student had tested positive on Saturday.  “We have received the information from the Health Department. Measures will be taken after consulting with the Department,” Jagadeesha told TNM. Despite being tested for the coronavirus, the student turned up at the examination centre to write the second board examination scheduled on Saturday. The student’s corona positive results came shortly after he finished writing his exam. “The policy is to disallow the students who tested positive from writing examinations,” the Commissioner of Public Instruction said.  The Education Department is currently preparing a report on the incident and will be checking if the COVID-19 positive student came in contact with other students at the examination centre. Karnataka's Education Department has allowed students from containment zones and students with COVID-19 symptoms to sit the exams in a separate room, despite outcry from parents and activists who have urged the state government not to hold exams.  More than 8.45 lakh students have registered for the SSLC board exams, which began on Thursday with the second language examination. On the day, the state reported a turnout of 98.3% and as many as 7.71 lakh out of the 7.85 lakh students who had registered for the particular exam attended it.  Students were asked to wear masks and maintain distancing at exam centres. Temperature checks were conducted at exam centres.    Students who shifted to their hometown during the prolonged lockdown have been allowed to write exams from the nearest centre. While states like Tamil Nadu and Telangana decided to cancel their board examinations this year, Karnataka decided to go ahead with certain restrictions in place. The state government submitted Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of the examination guidelines to the High Court and the Supreme Court to ensure that there are no legal hurdles to conduct the exams.  The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) board examinations for Class 10 and 12 students have been cancelled.

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