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Coronavirus in Karnataka: 41 cases so far, Bengaluru uses drones to spray disinfectants

Out of the 41 cases detected and confirmed in Karnataka so far, six cases are transit passengers of Kerala who have landed in airports in Karnataka, said a media bulletin by the state Health Department.

karnataka coronavirus cases, coronavirus outbreak, drone, bbmp, bengaluru, covid-19, india news, indian express Bengaluru’s local civic body BBMP is using drones to spray disinfectants in an effort to sanitise public spaces. (Express photo)

Eight new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Karnataka on Tuesday taking the total positive cases in the state to 41.

“Out of these 41 cases detected and confirmed in Karnataka so far, 6 cases are transit passengers of Kerala who landed in airports situated in Karnataka and took treatment here,” Karnataka Department of Health and Family Welfare Services clarified.

While the number was 33 as of March 23 (Monday), this is the biggest leap in the number of positive cases recorded in Karnataka on a single day since the first positive case in the state was confirmed on March 9.

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Out of 41 positive cases, capital city Bengaluru alone has recorded 24.

The new patients include a 32-year-old male, a resident of Kasargod in Kerala (P 34). He had a travel history to Dubai and had arrived at Mangaluru on March 20 after which he was admitted in a hospital in Mangaluru.

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Patient 35 is a 40-year-old male who is resident of Uttara Kannada District. He also had a history of travel to Dubai and had arrived in India on March 21. The patient is isolated and treated at a designated hospital in Uttara Kannada District.

Patient 36 is a 65-year-old male resident of Uttara Kannada district. He had a history of travel to Dubai and had arrived at Mumbai on March 18. He had then travelled to the state by train. The patient is isolated in Uttara Kannada District hospital.

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Patient 37 is a 56-year-old female, resident of Chikkaballapura district, family member and a co-passenger of Patient 19 and 22, who had a history of travel to Mecca, Saudi Arabia who had arrived at Hyderabad on March 14. She is isolated at a designated hospital in Chikkaballapura.

Patient 38 is a 56-year-old female from Bengaluru who is a contact of Patient 13. She has been isolated at a designated hospital in Bengaluru.

Patient 39 is a 47-year-old male resident of Kasargod in Kerala. He had arrived at Mangaluru airport from Dubai and was directly quarantined and isolated on arrival in a designated isolation hospital in Mangaluru. According to the Dakshina Kannada district administration, he arrived in the Air India Express (IX 814) flight at 5 am on March 19.

Patient 40, a 70-year-old female resident of Kasargod in Kerala who had a travel history to Saudi Arabia after which she was isolated in a designated isolation hospital in Mangaluru.

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karnataka coronavirus cases, coronavirus outbreak, drone, bbmp, bengaluru, covid-19, india news, indian express Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Tuesday urged the people to restrict Ugadi celebrations at home, since the state government has announced a state-wide lockdown till March 31 to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Patient 41 is a 23-year-old male resident of Kasargod in Kerala and had landed in Mangaluru Airport on March 20. He was directly quarantined and isolated on arrival in a designated isolation hospital in Mangaluru.

Meanwhile, Patient 41 and Patient 34 arrived in Mangaluru in a Spicejet flight (SG-60) at 5.30 pm on March 20.

With Kasargod situated just 56 kilometres south to Mangaluru, travellers prefer this airport over the Kannur International Airport in Kerala which is 90 kilometres away.

Health Minister Sreeramulu removed from COVID-19 charges

In a major rejig to the portolios allocated to Health Minister B Sriramulu, the Karnataka governor signed off a government order discharging him from all responsibilities related to handling the COVID-19 pandemic in the state on Tuesday.

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According to the notification signed by Governor Vajubhai Vala, Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar has been made in-charge for all matters relating to COVID-19.

In a government notification on Tuesday, Karnataka govenor Vajubhai Vala validating the re-allocation of portfolios “on the advice of the Chief Minister.”

While Sudhakar, also a qualified doctor, will head the state’s combat against COVID-19, Sriramulu has been given the additional portfolio of Backward Class Welfare Development.

Purchasing groceries, drinking water become uphill task for Bengalureans

As the first day of complete lockdown came into effect in the capital city on Tuesday following government orders, several citizens in Bengaluru found it difficult to get drinking water and essentials to cook at home after the police allegedly forced several supermarkets in the city to close down.

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Speaking to Indianexpress.com, a proprietor of a supermarket in Koramangala said, “Even though the CM announced on Monday night that food supply and grocery shops can function as usual, police personnel arrived at our supermarket as we were beginning operations asking us to forcefully shut down the shop. However, later I was told that supermarkets run by big companies were allowed to function throughout the day.”

karnataka coronavirus cases, coronavirus outbreak, drone, bbmp, bengaluru, covid-19, india news, indian express In the government order dated March 23, the Karnataka government had included “food, ration shops, milk, vegetables, groceries, meat, fish, fruit, wholesale and retail markets, and shops,” among others in the list of the essential services exempted from the restrictions. (Express photo)

With supermarkets shut, several citizens felt the heat as they ran out of essential groceries and even drinking water. One among them, Nitin Murali, a marketing professional said, “Unlike many others, we had not resorted to bulk-buying thinking that essentials will be available, but we were shocked to see hardly any shops open in our neighbourhood.

He added, “Without milk, drinking water, and groceries, this day turned out to be a real struggle for survival.”

In the government order dated March 23, the Karnataka government had included “food, ration shops, milk, vegetables, groceries, meat, fish, fruit, wholesale and retail markets, and shops,” among others in the list of the essential services exempted from the restrictions.

Prayers in mosques suspended till March 31

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The Karnataka Minority Welfare Haj and Wakf Department have issued a notification calling for a suspension of daily prayers including Jummah (Friday) prayer in mosques across the state until March 31.

A note issued by AB Ibrahim, Secretary, Minority Welfare Haj and Wakf Department, read, “In the larger interest of public safety and to maintain health, we hereby recommend for suspension of all daily prayers including Jummah (Friday) prayers in mosques up to 31 March, with immediate effect. Also to make announcements in this regard in the Masjid and surrounding areas.”

FIR registered against a woman for violating home quarantine: In a first case, the Bengaluru police on Tuesday registered an FIR against a 23-year-old woman who was in home quarantine but visited a supermarket despite having clear instructions by the Government to stay at home. According to the police, the woman is a resident of Vijayanagar in South Bengaluru, had gone to Dubai in December and returned to the city on March 22 was instructed to be in home quarantine by the authorities. Speaking to Indianexpress.com, Vijayanagara police inspector said, “The woman was stamped for home quarantine by the police officials and health department officials and also instructed her to stay at home, despite this she had visited a supermarket on Monday, we received information about this and the footage has been collected of her in the supermarket.” The police have registered an FIR against her under section 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and warned her to stay at home. Stay home during Ugadi: Yediyurappa Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Tuesday urged the people to restrict Ugadi celebrations at home, since the state government has announced a state-wide lockdown till March 31 to contain the spread of COVID-19. Speaking to reporters, Yediyurappa said, “I request the people to stay at home on Ugadi festival in view of the pandemic. I am also celebrating the festival in a low-key manner and the people should stop visiting the markets in large numbers ahead of the festival.” Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa also visited the COVID-19 War Room set up by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike(BBMP) to check the spread of Coronavirus pandemic in Bengaluru. The BBMP has set up the war room by using an application developed by the World Health Organisation(WHO). The war room will collect the data about the quarantine patients and the isolated patents and track them every day. “Karnataka is the only state in the country to have set up a 24x7 war room for combating the spread of Coronavirus,” Yediyurappa said. The Karnataka Minority Welfare Haj and Wakf Department have issued a notification calling for a suspension of daily prayers including Jummah (Friday) prayer in mosques across the state until March 31. (Express photo)

Meanwhile, Bengaluru’s local civic body BBMP is using drones to spray disinfectants in an effort to sanitise public spaces. “Mechanical sweepers to be deployed for intensive cleaning. Jetting machines from BWSSB will also be employed in this exercise,” Bengaluru Mayor M Goutham Kumar said.

FIR registered against a woman for violating home quarantine:

In a first case, the Bengaluru police on Tuesday registered an FIR against a 23-year-old woman who was in home quarantine but visited a supermarket despite having clear instructions by the Government to stay at home.

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According to the police, the woman is a resident of Vijayanagar in South Bengaluru, had gone to Dubai in December and returned to the city on March 22 was instructed to be in home quarantine by the authorities.

Speaking to Indianexpress.com, Vijayanagara police inspector said, “The woman was stamped for home quarantine by the police officials and health department officials and also instructed her to stay at home, despite this she had visited a supermarket on Monday, we received information about this and the footage has been collected of her in the supermarket.”

The police have registered an FIR against her under section 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and warned her to stay at home.

Stay home during Ugadi: Yediyurappa

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Tuesday urged the people to restrict Ugadi celebrations at home, since the state government has announced a state-wide lockdown till March 31 to contain the spread of COVID-19.

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Speaking to reporters, Yediyurappa said, “I request the people to stay at home on Ugadi festival in view of the pandemic. I am also celebrating the festival in a low-key manner and the people should stop visiting the markets in large numbers ahead of the festival.”

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa also visited the COVID-19 War Room set up by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike(BBMP) to check the spread of Coronavirus pandemic in Bengaluru. The BBMP has set up the war room by using an application developed by the World Health Organisation(WHO). The war room will collect the data about the quarantine patients and the isolated patents and track them every day.

“Karnataka is the only state in the country to have set up a 24×7 war room for combating the spread of coronavirus,” Yediyurappa said.

First uploaded on: 24-03-2020 at 17:47 IST
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