Bengaluru: Bengaluru topped the Single day virus caseload with 1148 cases (overall 28,877) as the positive cases in Karnataka crossed the 2000 mark – it stands at 2062 and the deaths recorded touched 54 in a single day – overall 470. MLAs and senior officers of the Administration are also falling prey to the virus and there are whispers in the air about a complete lockdown again. Against this backdrop the CM, Mr. Yediyurappa held a meeting with health experts on Wednesday, who are believed to have raised concerns over the death numbers. Bengaluru alone has been the major contributor of the death toll in the state. The government is still in denial about the community spread but it is becoming increasingly apparent.
Bengaluru is obviously the worst hit. Till May 31, Bengaluru had 63 zones and jumped to 487 by June 30. Till July 7, the city had 3276 containment zones and with the fresh 1148 cases, it is expected to go up further.
Some officers have been advising the CM that the only way to stop a community spread is a total Lockdown, but the government is reluctant to do so given that the economy is still trying to get back on its feet. July will be critical and the officers want to arrest the rise in cases as they will become difficult to manage.
Sources have told the Deccan Chronicle that the chief minister is being apprised about the developments that the team working on plasma treatment has been asked to speed up plasma collection and help treat virus-positive patients.
State not prepared for the sudden surge?
But in the meanwhile, speaking to the Economic Times’s Akshatha M, Dr. MK Sudarshan, the Chairman of the Karnataka Government’s COVID19 technical advisory committee chairman, has said that another lockdown will only delay the case surge in Karnataka. In the interview, Dr. Sudarshan says the state was not prepared for the sudden surge, but the decision to treat asymptomatic patients at their homes is a good move as it will free up hospital beds for those who need them. He also said that testing should be limited to symptomatic persons including those among the primary contacts of a symptomatic COVID19 patient. However, surveillance must continue he averred.
He says that the surge was due to “non-compliance non-compliance with basic hygiene practices by people like wearing masks and keeping social distance”. On the other hand, “Deaths are caused mainly due to delay by patients in seeking medical care and, also due to nonavailability or non-allotment of beds. Many incidents were reported over the last week, where hospitals have refused admission for lack of beds or treatment facilities. This has to be immediately set right. Hospitals should not deny medical care to anyone. Even patients should not wait until their condition gets worse to reach out to hospitals.” he said in the interview.
