Karnataka COVID-19 wrap: Contact tracing begins as 54 people from state attended Nizamuddin Jamaat

Later, he tweeted the attendees from the state were primarily from Bengaluru, Bidar, Gulbarga, and Bellary districts.

“13 people were traced and were tested negative of coronavirus on Tuesday. 26 other people identified in Bidar have been quarantined,” Sriramulu tweeted. He added that the tracing work for the others is in progress.

According to the Karnataka health department, the third casualty reported from the state (Patient 60) had a travel history to Delhi by train on March 13.

“The 60-year-old male resident of Tumkur district had a history of travel to Delhi by train on March 13. Patient died on March 27 morning at designated hospital in Tumkur. 24 high-risk primary contacts have been traced of which 13 are isolated in a designated hospital. 8 tested negative and 3 are healthcare professionals who are house-quarantined,” the department had stated on March 27.

Meanwhile, the deceased’s son – a 13-year-old boy – tested positive for coronavirus in Tumkur on Monday. According to Tumkur Deputy Commissioner Dr Rakesh Kumar, the teenager was admitted to the district hospital on Sunday. He was later shifted to the isolation ward in Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases, Bengaluru after certain variations in his vitals were observed.

Three from same family test positive has travel history to Bengaluru

As ten new cases were detected in the state as at 8 am on Tuesday, three cases from the same family in Hospet, Bellary indicated a travel history only to Bengaluru.

According to primary investigations, health officials have found that the trio had no contact or travel history to affected countries. The trio comprises of a 52-year-old male, his wife (48) and his daughter (26).

“There is a history of travel to Bengaluru on 16.03.2020 and the detail
investigation is under process,” the media bulletin released by the health department on Tuesday read.

Meanwhile, two more cases from the same pharmaceutical company in Nanjangud, Mysuru were confirmed as the total positive cases from the same company rose to 12.

With three deaths and six recoveries so far, the total number of active cases in the state stands at 89 (as on 8 am, March 31).

Watch: Bengaluru police enact skit urging citizens to follow lockdown measures

In a novel initiative to spread awareness on the coronavirus pandemic, traffic cops in Bengaluru enacted a skit in the heart of the city urging people to maintain social distancing and to take lockdown measures seriously.

The video of the skit went viral on Monday as people across the country shared it on various social media platforms.

In #Bengaluru, @blrcitytraffic enacts a public service announcement (PSA) skit to create awareness on #COVID19. Urges citizens to take lockdown measures seriously. Location: Trinity Circle. @WeAreBangalore @group1crew @WFRising @deepolice12 @BBMPCOMM @BlrCityPolice pic.twitter.com/mi2TV24btS

— Ralph Alex Arakal (@ralpharakal) March 31, 2020

In the video shot at Trinity Circle, a traffic inspector is seen announcing various dos and don’ts to prevent further spread of the pandemic. At the same time, two constables dressed up as coronavirus is seen attacking a man casually arriving on a bike to portray how the infection would probably affect those breaking the lockdown.

BBMP officials meet Bengaluru MPs, apprise them of COVID-10 preventive measures

Top officials of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) met Lok Sabha MPs representing different constituencies in Bengaluru on Tuesday to apprise them on various steps taken in the city the wake of the 21-day nationwide lockdown.

The officials, according to BBMP Commissioner B H Anil Kumar discussed on ways to reduce crowding at markets, and on various steps to be taken to maintain the supply chain of food and vegetables to the citizens. Steps taken to continue distribution of food/ration to destitutes and to provide accommodation for all homeless at night shelters we also discussed, Kumar added.

Bengaluru police seize 12,000 fake N 95 masks

The Central Crime Branch of the Bengaluru City Police seized over 12,000 fake N95 masks in a raid conducted in the city. “The accused makes masks with a normal cloth and puts fake N95 seal to sells it at a high price as N95 masks,” Sandeep Patil, Joint Commissioner (Crime) said confirming the same.

Later in a release, the police stated that the masks were worth Rs 20 lakh worth and the raid was held in a godown of ZIS engineering company, located in Kalyan Nagar. A case has been registered in Banaswadi police station against the accused and the company under IPC section 420 (cheating).

Not everyone needs to wear mask: Karnataka government clarifies

The Karnataka government on Tuesday clarified that everyone need not wear a mask, since the police insist every person who comes out to wear a mask or cover his mouth and nose with a cloth.

In an advisory by the Health department, It is said a person is supposed to wear a mask only when he or she has symptoms of cold or cough or fever or any other respiratory problem and a person who is caring a COVID-19 suspect or confirmed patient should wear mask. The advisory further states, a health worker who is attending to a patient with respiratory symptoms should wear a mask. “Those treating or handling COVID-19 suspects or patients need to wear N95 mask, while others can wear triple layer surgical mask,” said in the advisory.

Cop suspended for allegedly issuing travel permits to businessman

A head constable in Bengaluru was suspended for allegedly issuing travel passes to businessman and his 24 relatives. The pass was only to be issued to the people in essential services.

According to the police, Head Constable attached to the Sarjapur police station was suspended. “The businessman and his relatives were travelling in two cars and they were enquired near the Tamil Nadu border, they were given passes saying that they were people in essential services, like doctors,” said a police officer. The police department has initiated an inquiry against PSI Harish V. and Head Constable Veerabhadrappa.

Here’s a quick Coronavirus guide from Express Explained to keep you updated: What can cause a COVID-19 patient to relapse after recovery? | COVID-19 lockdown has cleaned up the air, but this may not be good news. Here’s why | Can alternative medicine work against the coronavirus? | A five-minute test for COVID-19 has been readied, India may get it too | How India is building up defence during lockdown | Why only a fraction of those with coronavirus suffer acutely | How do healthcare workers protect themselves from getting infected? | What does it take to set up isolation wards?