Karnataka: Community spread on, says Hassan DC

HASSAN: Deputy commissioner R Girish claimed there are strong indications that infection had reached the community stage in Hassan district, pointing to a rise in patients that have either no travel history or contact with a Covid-19 positive patient.
His comments come after Hassan reported its fourth Covid death – a 30-year-old who passed away late on Tuesday.The man, who worked as a driver to the chairman of a private hospital in Bengaluru, was from Dudda, Hassan taluk. He had returned home on June 25 after spiking a fever and was admitted to hospital on June 29. He suffered from chronic alcoholic liver disease, said district surgeon Dr Krishnamurty.
“We are yet to trace his primary contacts. He died soon after we received his Covid positive report,” said district health officer Dr Sathish. Since Sunday, there have been more than a dozen cases – there were five on Wednesday – from random sample testing. Even individuals with influenza like illness and severe acute respiratory illness are testing positive, which, officials say, is cause of concern.
Girish urged residents to follow all Covid protocols to keep infection at bay, insisting it was difficult to say “if the person next to you is not positive”. He said random testing has been increased and test results “indicates community transmission”.