Archives for 2021

Though the state is currently under complete lockdown till May 24, several leaders, including ministers, have expressed themselves in favour of extending it

BENGALURU: Discussions are on regarding extending the lockdown in Karnataka, but no decision has been taken yet on the matter, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said on Monday, as the State battles the second wave of COVID-19.

Though the state is currently under complete lockdown till May 24, several leaders, including ministers, have expressed themselves in favour of extending it.

The Karnataka government had initially announced 14 days “close down” from April 27, but subsequently imposed a complete lockdown from May 10 to May 24, as the cases continued to spike.

Revenue Minister, R Ashoka, also Vice-Chairman of Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority, who has been batting for the extension of curbs, today said lockdown has been useful as daily fresh cases in Bengaluru have come down from 22,000 to 8,000 and it will be good to extend the shutdown.

Noting that because of lockdown, the number of daily cases have come down in Maharashtra and Delhi too, he said, three days before the current shutdown ends, senior ministers will meet under the leadership of the Chief Minister and take a decision.

Mines and Geology Minister Murugesh Nirani too said, it will be good if lockdown is extended for some more days.

Health Minister K Sudhakar, in response to a question about extending the restrictions, said it will be discussed at the meeting chaired by the Chief Minister.

Union Minister Sadananda Gowda too recently had said lockdown has to be extended if need be, as it has been yielding results, with major cities including Bengaluru witnessing decline in daily COVID positive cases.

Meanwhile, the Congress and JD(S) have urged the state government to provide relief, including financial and food, and come to the rescue of those whose livelihood has been affected by the COVID-19 induced shutdown.

JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy today urged the government that the lockdown, if extended, should be “pro bono”, where economic and food relief to the needy is taken care of.

Meanwhile, as many as 97 people in the state contracted mucormycosis, also known as black fungus, as post-COVID complications in Karnataka, Sudhakar said on Monday.

“Till yesterday 97 people contracted this (black fungus) disease in the state,” Sudhakar told a press conference after a meeting with experts on the black fungal infection.

He, however, appealed to the people not to panic as it does not spread like COVID.

“It did affect a few people in the state, which I accept. Compared to previous years, this year it is more in number,” the Minister said.

Sudhakar, who is a medical professional, suspected that this disease comes from the usage of tap water.

“I appeal to the para medical staff, use only sterilised water extracted from the humidifier,” Sudhakar told the doctors and paramedics.

According to him, usage of excess steroids among the diabetic patients increased their sugar level, which eventually caused black fungus.

After contracting COVID, diabetic patients will have to control their sugar level, Sudhakar said, adding, those who did not control it fell prey to black fungus.

In view of the occurrence of mucormycosis among COVID patients, Sudhakar announced notifying regional centres in the state for its treatment.

These Centres are Mysuru Medical College, Shivamogga Institute of Medical College, Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences in Kalaburagi, Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences at Hubballi, Kasturba Medical College and Wenlock District Hospital in Mangaluru.

The state has already requested the Centre to supply 25,000 doses of Amphotericin B, an anti-fungal medication.

State Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar on Monday said no decision has been taken on cancelling the 10th class examination and the second pre-university examination.

“We have not taken any decision on cancelling the SSLC or the PUC-II exams, which were postponed earlier in view of the rising COVID cases,” Kumar said in a statement.

Stating that reports in a section of the media were only speculation, he said the decision would be taken in the future and asked students not to get disturbed but focus on studies.

The government gave general promotion to the students from Class-one to Class-nine and also the first pre- university College exams in view of the growing number of COVID cases last year.

The government had conducted the SSLC and PUC-II exam last year.

Karnataka reported 38,603 new cases of COVID-19, and 476 fatalities, taking the total number of infections to 22,42,065 and the toll to 22,313, the Health department said on Monday.

The day also saw 34,635 patients getting discharged after recovery.

Bengaluru Urban accounted for 13,338 new cases.

As on May 17 evening, cumulatively 22,42,065 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 22,313 deaths and 16,16,092 discharges, a department bulletin said.

Total number of active cases in the state stood at 6,03,639.

While the positivity rate for the day stood at 39.70 per cent, case fatality rate (CFR) was at 1.23 per cent.

Among 476 deaths reported on Monday, 239 are from Bengaluru Urban, Hassan (29), Ballari (17), Kalaburagi, Shivamogga and Uttara Kannada (15), Tumakuru (14), Bengaluru Rural (13), Mandya (10), followed by others.

Hassan recorded 2,324 new cases, Ballari 2,322, Mysuru 1,980, Tumakuru 1,915, Belagavi 1,748, followed by others.

Bengaluru Urban district tops the list of positive cases, with a total of 10,64,396, followed by Mysuru 1,14,107 and Tumakuru 83,394.

Among discharges too, Bengaluru Urban tops the list with 6,90,291, followed by Mysuru 98,669 and Ballari 56,265.

A total of over 2,79,76,933 samples have been tested so far, of which 97,236 were tested on Monday alone.

BENGALURU: To help citizens who have lost their livelihoods and incurred losses due to the COVID19 second wave lockdown, the Karnataka government announced an economic relief package on Wednesday.

Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said at a cost of Rs 1250 crores, financial compensation, food security and moratorium has been extended to the most vulnerable sections of the citizenry in the State to mitigate the adverse impact of the lockdown. Karnataka has been under corona curfew since April 24. 

“The economic relief package is to help farmers, unorganised sector workers and comes at a cost of more than Rs 1250 crores. Despite the financial crunch we are facing we are announcing this package,” BS Yediyurappa said. Rs 10,000 compensation has been announced for floriculture and horticulture farmers for losses due to the lockdown. Some 20,000 floriculture farmers and 69,000 horticulture farmers are expected to benefit out of this announcement, the Chief Minister said. 

“Licensed and registered auto drivers and cab drivers will be given Rs 3000 financial assistance. About 2.10 lakh persons are estimated to benefit out of this. Rs 3000 will also be transferred to the bank accounts of construction workers registered with construction workers welfare board,” BS Yediyurappa said. 

Rs 2000 financial assistance has also been announced for unorganised sector workers like barbers, washermen, mechanics, leather workers, carpenters, tailors, coolies, ragpickers, household helps and street vendors. An estimated 3.04 lakh persons from the unorganised sector and 2.2 lakh street vendors registered with Atmanirbhar funds are set to benefit from the announcement, the chief minister said. 

Artists and artist groups registered with Kanada and culture department will receive Rs 3000. Schedule for repayment of loans availed by farmers and self-help groups from cooperative societies, land banks etc have been extended by three months. Apart from distributing five-kilo rice for each beneficiary already registered under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana and antyodaya scheme for May and June months free of cost, the State government will include an additional 30 lakh beneficiaries under this scheme and spend Rs 180 crore so benefits are extended to them. 

Those who have applied for BPL ration cards but haven’t received it yet will be given free 10 kilo rice for May and June while those awaiting APL cards will be given subsidised 10 kilo rice at Rs 15 per kilo. 

The Karnataka government last year during the first COVID19 lockdown had announced an economic relief package of Rs 1610 crore which included electricity subsidies for MSMEs, citizens and small businesses apart from financial assistance to vulnerable sections. 

MANGALURU: A 24-year-old probationary sub-inspector attached to Dakshina Kannada police station succumbed to Covid-19 on Tuesday.

In a tweet, DGP Praveen Sood said that Shamili is the youngest cop to succumb to the deadly virus. 

DK Superintendent of Police Rishikesh Sonawane said Shamili died at RM Jalappa hospital, Kolar where she was admitted for covid treatment. She was also 7-months pregnant because of which was not given the vaccine.

She joined DK police on January 11, 2021 and had gone on leave to her hometown Kolar. She was admitted to Jalappa Hospital Kolar on May 2 for Covid treatment. 

SP Kolar paid personal attention in her hospitalisation and treatment.

KALABURAGI:  Mines and Geology Minister Murugesh Nirani, who is also district in-charge minister, is in favour of extending lockdown for 10 more days in the State to stem the spread of coronavirus cases. The minister, who arrived here on Monday on a three-day visit to inspect taluk general hospitals in the district, spoke to mediapersons before leaving for Chittapur and Shahabad. Nirani said, “Though Covid cases are on the decline in the district for three days, we should be cautious and follow safety protocols.”

The minister said he had spoken with the health minister and home minister. The government will take a decision on the matter soon, after seeking suggestions from the expert committee, Nirani said. The mines and geology department has proposed to establish two oxygen generation plants in each of the five divisions in the state

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Pramesh Jain

The Central crime branch officials of organised crime wing arrested a staff nurse of Jayanagar general hospital for selling Remdesivir in black.

The accused has been identified as, Maruthi,22 year old, resident of Belagavi.

Senior officer told reporters,our organised crime wing Inspector Girish Naik received a credible information from his informants that one person is selling Remdesivir injections in black charging exhobirant price near I Care Hospital in Jayanagar 4th block on the footpath.

Based on information Inspector Girish Naik and his team swung into action and rushed to spot near I Care Hospital in 4th block the team noticed a person standing on footpath of the hospital and is trying to sell Remdesivir injections.

After getting confirmation that the person is indulged in selling Antiviral drug Remdesivir the team approached him and found DESREM Remdesivir 100mg vials in his possession.

For further questioning the team took him to station and during investigation the accused confessed the crime and it was revealed that the accused is a male staff nurse attached to Jayanagar General hospital and was trying to sell the vials in black charging exhobirant price to its customers.

We have seized 6 DESREM Remdesivir vials from his possession and a mobile phone too has been seized.

The CCB officials taken the accused into custody to ascertain the sources of injections.

We suspect that the accused had sources it from the hospital.A case has been registered in Tilaknagar police station under Drug control Act  and further investigation is on to ascertain possible involvement of others in this racket.

Finally Bengaluru Police Commissioner,Kamal Pant has appreciated Joint CP Crime,Sandeep Patil,DCP Crime-1,KP Ravikumar,ACP Anti-Narcotics Wing,Gautam Kumar,PI,Girish Naik and his team for the commendable job done by them 6 Remdesivir vials seized from him and a suitable reward will be given to the team he added.