Karnataka Covid lockdown news: State reports 39,305 new cases, 596 deaths

Karnataka Minister Arvind Limbavali on Monday said there are plans to open triaging centres for complete physical tests of Covid-19 patients in ten districts of the state. (PTI)

The day saw milling crowds at shops, with absolutely no semblance of social distancing, trying to hoard as much as essentials. This was probably due to the two day curfew imposed by DK administration on Saturday and Sunday.

The first 'Oxygen Express' to Karnataka with six cryogenic containers -- a total of 120 tonnes -- left Jamshedpur on Monday. The train is expected to reach Inland Container Depot, Container Corporation of India, Whitefield, here, on Tuesday, an official press release said. (PTI)

The state’s Covid Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) has recommended that the government provide medical kits for all patients in home isolation that includes pulse oximeters, besides medicines for mild infection. Oximeters detect oxygen saturation level in the blood. When checked with a fingertip pulse oximeter, a reading of 95% is ideal. Anything below that is a warning sign of acute infection and breathlessness.

CM BS Yediyurappa has appealed to the people to abide by the strict lockdown- like restrictions in Karnataka from Monday for the next fortnight to contain the spread of coronavirus, which is spreading in the state at an alarming proportion. Policemen wielding lathis were seen at places in an effort to implement the stringent restrictions.The roads were barricaded and motorists were warned and allegedly got the stick for venturing out without valid reasons. Those who went out to purchase medicines and essential goods were also allegedly roughed up. At Uttarahalli circle in Bengaluru, people who had gone to collect water from the government established water purifier unit were also allegedly beaten. Former CM H D Kumaraswamy came down heavily on the government for the police excesses saying that the government thought stopping people's movement was the only way to prevent the spread of the virus. In a series of tweets, the JD(S) second-in-command expressed his anger over the way lockdown has been implemented. (PTI )

City police commissioner N Shashi Kumar said that 48 police personnel have tested positive for Covid-19 so far. Of them, seven have recovered and are back on duty. While one had been admitted to the ICU and is recovering, 41 are currently in home isolation, he said.

As several Covid-19 patients are showing mild symptoms or asymptomatic, there has been an increase in home isolation in Belagavi division. As per the health department, out of 26,612 active cases in the division, which includes Dharwad, Haveri, Gadag, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Bagalkot and Uttara Kannada districts, more than 18,854 patients are isolated at home and 7,758 are admitted to hospital.

During the 14-day lockdown starting on Monday, the Karnataka government has allowed delivery of essential goods via e-commerce and other platforms without defining what constitutes ‘essential items’. A latenight modification order by revenue secretary N Manjunath Prasad said only those with confirmed appointment slips or SMS generated from Co-Win app will be allowed to step out for vaccination.