BENGALURU: For those wondering why the curfew restrictions need to be taken seriously — call it ‘lockdown’ if you want — consider this: On Friday, with Karnataka recording a maddening addition of 48,296 fresh Covid-19 cases to its tally, the total number of active cases in Bengaluru alone has crossed the individual figures of the entire states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. If it is any consolation, Kerala is the only other southern state whose active cases — currently under treatment — are more than Bengaluru’s.

The Health Department data says that on October 7 last year, 1,04,348 tests were conducted to detect a single-day addition of 10,974 cases. On Friday, 1,89,793 tests revealed an addition of 48,296 cases. This is an 81 per cent increase in the number of tests, but the comparative increase in the single-day addition is a whopping 340 per cent!

With the worsening situation in Bengaluru, and Karnataka in general, the state’s recovery rate has fallen to 73.85 per cent from Thursday’s 75.26 per cent. The recovery rate was a robust 98.06 per cent on January 30, when the first wave was on the wane. Correspondingly, the state’s positivity rate has been rising since April 4, when it was 4.63 per cent. On Friday, the state’s positivity rate was at 5.95 per cent, up from 5.80 per cent on Thursday.

The mortality rate, however, has been falling and is now 1.01 per cent — an indication that the deaths, compared to the Covid-19 tally — have been just a fraction. It was 1.03 per cent on Thursday.Bengaluru’s Covid-19 tally now stands at 7,56,740 cases recorded since the pandemic reached the state on March 8 last year. It was 7,29,984 on Thursday. 

BENGALURU: If you are in the 18-44-year age group and have registered on the CoWIN portal to get vaccinated in Karnataka, you will have to wait for some more time. A day after TNIE reported that the fourth phase of the Covid-19 inoculation drive may begin only by mid-May, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar said vaccine supplies have not reached Karnataka and hence, the rollout cannot happen from May 1. 

“We have placed an order for more than one crore doses. It is now official that it won’t be delivered on May 1 as thought earlier. We request those aged between 18-44 to refrain from going to hospitals for vaccination. We will definitely intimate all when we get word from Serum institute. I request everybody to register on the CoWIN portal and to await your turn. We are trying our best to get the vaccines at the earliest. We are also requesting the Government of India to help us get the vaccines on priority,” said Dr Sudhakar, on Friday on the eve of the planned vaccination drive for those above the age of 18 and below 45. 

“There is no question of failure. We were supposed to get vaccine supplies, but it has been delayed. As soon as we get it, we will begin the drive. There is no need to drag the Prime Minister’s name. The Union Government is also making attempts and other counties are helping us as well in various ways. Things will take a turn for the better soon,” said Chief Minister Yediyurappa on Friday, when asked if the PM’s plan of opening up vaccines for all on May 1 had failed. Free vaccines for those aged 45 and above, however, will continue.

BENGALURU: It’s bad news for the BJP, which managed to win just one of 10 civic bodies — the Congres won seven and the JDS bagged two. This comes just ahead of the May 2 counting of votes for the bypolls in Karnataka, and assembly elections in other states.Traditionally, the ruling party holds an advantage in civic body elections, but that is not so for the BJP this time. It is especially disheartening for Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa who saw a setback in Thirthahalli in his native district Shivamogga.

In an indication that BJP’s popularity is declining, the Congress won 21 of the 39 seats in Ballari, leaving just 13 for the BJP, while the JDS drew a blank. In Ramanagara, where the JDS has traditionally done well, the Congress managed to do exceedingly well thanks to the personal involvement of DK Shivakumar and his brother-MP DK Suresh. Congress won 19, JDS won 11 here and BJP drew a blank, which is a great setback for the party which has tried to project DyCM Dr CN Ashwath Narayan as its Vokkaliga face here.

The Congress retained Bhadravati, its old bastion, and managed to storm Thirthahalli, which the BJP had been holding for 25 years in the CM’s home constituency. The Congress won a convincing 9 of 15 seats, reducing BJP to just 6 seats, while the JDS drew a blank.

In Belur, in Hassan district, the Congress won 17 seats while BJP won just one seat. The JDS won 5 seats in Gudibande civic body in Chikkaballapura district, while the opposition Congress gained a clear majority, winning 6 of 11 seats, in spite of Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar working very hard here. Reacting to the victory, Opposition leader Siddaramaiah, and DK Shivakumar said they could not contain their joy as the elections were held on April 27, just when Covid cases were peaking. 

By: Husna Rizwan M.D Nasheman

Model and Actress Ankita Chouhan is all set to make her Bollywood debut through upcoming movie BA Pass 3. The film is produced and directed by Narendra Singh. It is penned by Deep Chugh and Narendra Singh and shot by ace cinematographer Anmol Dhiman. The music is composed by Altaaf-Manny and stars Sunny Sachdeva, Ankita Chouhan, Armaan Sandhu, in the pivotal roles.The film revolves around those unwanted relationships, which are made, and then they are punished as well. BA Pass 3 narrates the story of a jobless Anshul and how his life changes upside down when he meets a married woman and gets into a relationship with her.

While talking to media Ankita Chouhan said, “BA Pass 3 is my debut film and I am super excited for the film. BA Pass is already a big franchise and I hope that everybody will love my work”.

 Ankita Chouhan had worked in a music album, short film the return gift for ping pong channel and web series the death warrant for mx player is going to release soon.

The minister said the government will intimate the eligible people after confirmation from Serum Institute of India about the arrival of vaccines.

BENGALURU: Vaccination of people above 18 years of age, which was supposed to start from May 1, may be delayed as the vaccines have not yet arrived, Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar said on Friday.

“We have made orders to Serum Institute in Pune for over one crore doses but the official news is that they are still not prepared to give it to us from tomorrow as scheduled,” the Minister told reporters here. He asked people who have enrolled themselves on the Cowin portal for inoculation to refrain from going to vaccination centres on May 1.

The minister said the government will intimate the eligible people after confirmation from Serum Institute of India about the arrival of vaccines. “We have already paid Rs 400 crore to purchase one crore doses of Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India in Pune,” the Minister said.

According to him, the Serum Institute has the capacity to produce five to six crore doses in a month while the Hyderabad based Bharat Biotech can produce one to 1.5 crore doses. Russia’s Sputnik has given licence to Dr Reddy’s Laboratory to produce the vaccine but they have not informed the government officially when they will be able to supply it.

BENGALURU: In the most explosive increase that Karnataka has witnessed throughout the pandemic, a whopping 39,047 fresh cases were added to the state’s Covid-19 tally on Wednesday. This massive addition has pushed the state to No. 2 position behind Maharashtra, which leads the pack with 6,73,481 active cases, and overtaking Uttar Pradesh.

Although the 11,883 single-day discharges recorded on Wednesday is the highest in the second wave, the first wave of the pandemic had seen better figures with 13,550 discharged on October 22 and 12,030 discharged on October 12 last year. The total number of patients discharged from March 2020, when the pandemic broke out in Karnataka, until now, stands at 10,95,883, up from 10,84,050 on Tuesday. 

BACK in October last year, the state’s recovery rate was 86.85%, and although it increased to a high of 98.05% by January 30 this year, the intense second wave has dragged it down to 76.11 per cent now. Bengaluru Urban district also recorded the single-day highest with 22,596 new cases. Out of the 229 deaths, 137 deaths were from Bengaluru Urban alone.

The total positive cases in the the city is 7,10,347. Bengaluru has reported 6,139 Covid deaths and tops among cities in the country with the highest active cases at 2,24,152. The number of patients discharged in the city for the day was 4,530 and total discharged stands at 4,80,055, up from 4,75,525 on Tuesday.

Apart from Bengaluru, the other districts with high number of cases are Mysuru (1,759) Kolar (1,194), Tumakuru (1,174), Ballari (1,106) and Hassan (1,001). Mysuru recorded 11 deaths and stands second among districts after Bengaluru Urban, with the death toll at 1,180.

Pramesh Jain

In its first of its kind in the history of the Bengaluru City Police,DCP East,Dr SD Sharanappa who is a special executive magistrate has Externed a 30-year-old habitual offender from the city for a period of one year due to his unabated criminal activities.

The accused a history sheeter has been identified as,Karthik alias Rahul,30,a resident of Gautampura in Halasuru having over 11 criminal cases pending against him,was posing a threat to the society and creating fear psychosis among the people .

DCP East,Dr SD Sharanappa told reporters,the accused Karthik alias Rahul is a history-sheeter at Halasuru police station, he had 11 cases against him.

Karthik was involved in crimes such as rape, robbery,attempt to murder,extortion,criminal intimidation,attack on government employees, and other offences, throughout the period of the last 10-11 years.He had no fear of the law and continued committing crimes that were detrimental to society.

The Halasuru police inspector who kept a close watch on his criminal activities in the area has  submitted a detailed report about his activities to the ACP and DCP seeking externment .

Considering the request, Dr SD Sharanappa , ordered the police to extern Karthik out of the city for one year and ensure necessary measures that he should not violate the order.

DCP (East) Sharanappa SD, who is also a Special Executive Magistrate,ordered for the externment of Karthik from the jurisdiction of Bengaluru City Police Commissionerate for a period of one year, from April 26, 2021,to April 26, 2022.He has been sent to Bengaluru Rural district,and will not be allowed to enter Bengaluru City during this period he added.

Finally Bengaluru Police Commissioner,Kamal Pant,Addl CP East,S Murugan,has appreciated DCP East,Dr SD Sharanappa,ACP,D kumar,PI, Shivaprasad G for the excellent investigation and based on the information gathered the history sheeter has been banished from city to keep the society safe and a suitable reward will be given to the team he added.

BENGALURU: With demand shooting up for Remdesivir following the alarming rise in COVID-19 cases in the state, Karnataka is contemplating importing two lakh vials of the anti-viral drug.

The state is getting 10,000 to 20,000 vials of Remdesivir on a daily basis and the Centre has allocated additional 25,000 vials, Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar told reporters here.

The minister said he has spoken to Biocon executive chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw to supply 10,000 vials in 10 days and another 50,000-60,000 vials within a month.

“We are trying to directly procure two lakh vials from abroad. We are seeking Centre’s approval for this,” the minister said.

Further, the state is increasing steps to increase the availability of ventilators by 10 times, Sudhakar said.

“In 15 days, at least 2,000 makeshift ICU beds will be ready. 800 of them will have ventilators.”

In Victoria hospital campus 250 ICU beds will be set up and in another new building, 150-200 ICU beds will be arranged and 100 of them will have ventilators, the minister said.

He added that makeshift hospitals will also be set up at Bowring, RGICD and NIMHANS hospitals.

KOLAR: Karnataka health minister Dr. K Sudhakar has ordered the suspension of SNR Hospital district surgeon Dr. SG Narayanaswamy and resident medical officer (RMO) Dr. Narayanaswamy after four patients allegedly died due to lack of oxygen in the district hospital.

After noticing that some of the ventilators were defunct, a visibly upset minister placed the district surgeon and RMO under suspension.

Dr. Sudhakar also heard the grievances from the patient attendants when a woman fell on his feet to request shifting of his relative to ventilator support. He took all the details including the bed facilities, infrastructure on the spot while holding discussions with the district Deputy Commissioner Dr.Selvamani and Superintendent of Police Karthick Reddy and doctors.

The minister also told the district administration to contact him at any time if any issues regarding lack of oxygen or supply of the medicines emerge. He also directed the district administration to take over more private hospitals to treat Covid patients.