Karnataka Lockdown Again: CM Basavraj Bommai called emergency meeting after cases rises in state

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai on Saturday called a meeting of experts of the health and disaster department to discuss the rise in Covid-19 cases in the state and fear of new variant.

CM Bommai said, “I have called a meeting of experts of health and disaster departments today in view of a surge in Covid-19 cases in Kerala and clusters in a few colleges in Dharwad and Bengaluru.”

Over 99 medical college students and faculty members were tested Covid-19 positive in Karnataka’s Dharwad district, taking the total number of affected medical students to 281 on Saturday, informed Dharwad District Collector Nitesh Patil.

Karnataka reported 402 new Covid-19 cases and six deaths on Saturday. As per the state’s health department, the state has 6,611 active cases of infection. Karnataka has recorded 29,94,963 infections since the onset of the pandemic last year.

With 277 recoveries reported in the last 24 hours, the total recoveries climbed to 29,50,130. The death toll is 38,193. Of the six deaths reported on Friday, one each was reported in Bengaluru Urban, Dakshina Kannada, Dharwada, Hassana, Kodagu and Raichuru.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Health Minister, Dr K Sudhakar on Saturday said that the people coming from new Covid-19 variant affected countries has to take RT-PCR after landing in Bengaluru. Dr K Sudhakar, said, “we are constantly in touch with the Union Health Ministry and have information that this new strain in South Africa, Hong Kong, Israel, & Botswana is very contagious & has overtaken the Delta variant.”

A total of 281 students and faculty have been tested positive for coronavirus in Karnatka’s SDM College of Medical Sciences on Saturday. According to Dharwad’s district magistrate Nitish Patil, six patients out of the total 281 cases are found symptomatic.

Also Read: New Variant Omicron Virus, Karnataka Again lockdown After December 15

Patil said that the Covid caseload might increase as 1,822 test results are awaited. Initially, 66 people were tested positive in the SDM Medical college. Thereafter, the district administration tested more people including students, staff, and primary contacts of infected students. Yesterday, 116 more people, including teachers and students were infected from Covid-19.

According to Patil, a student’s event almost a week ago might have resulted in the spread of infection. Meanwhile, a holiday has been declared in educational institutions in a radius of 500 meters near the college till Sunday as a preventive measure.

Also Read: Covid third wave fear starts in Karnataka: SDM College 281 students and staff Tests covid positive

Patil had earlier said “We are doing RAT and RTPCR tests of around 3,000 people inside the campus. College administration has been directed to not allow any visitors inside the campus. Attendees will be not allowed inside the hospital where the patients are undergoing treatment.”

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