Karnataka Health Advisory: Senior Citizens, Vulnerable Groups Urged to Wear Masks
Mangaluru: The Karnataka state health department has issued an advisory for senior citizens, comorbid, pregnant women, and lactating mothers to wear face masks.
Following the emergence of JN1 sub-variant of COVID in neighboring Kerala and Tamil Nadu and, considering the winter season and the expected crowding in closed spaces during the year-end and New Year festivities, the Karnataka health department has issued an advisory. It has advised the people to comply with the precautionary measures which are also advised by the Covid-19 State Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).
“All elderly (60 years and above), comorbid (particularly with kidney, heart, liver ailments, etc), pregnant women and lactating mothers when outdoors, shall wear face masks and strictly avoid visiting closed, poorly ventilated spaces and crowded areas,” the first point in the advisory stated.
Individuals exhibiting respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, and cold are urged to seek prompt medical consultation. The advisory asks them to wear face masks and refrain from visiting enclosed, poorly ventilated spaces, and crowded areas.
The health department underscores the importance of personal hygiene practices, including frequent handwashing, and advises individuals to stay at home when unwell, minimizing contact with others, particularly vulnerable and seniors. International travelers are advised to exercise vigilance and adopt relevant travel precautions, such as wearing masks at airports, and inside aircraft, and avoiding crowded areas with poor ventilation.
The department has also issued a circular stating that all bordering districts of the state of Kerala and Tamil Nadu have to be vigilant and ensure adequate testing and timely reporting of COVID cases.
“Testing of all SARI cases and at least 1 in 20 ILI cases for COVID-19 at all private and government tertiary centers including those in medical colleges should be taken up,” the circular said.
Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is to be done for symptomatic with international travel history, representative samples from clusters/local outbreaks with severe morbidity and/or mortality, seriously sick, hospitalized patients, SARI cases, and prolonged hospital admission.
The WGS is to be done in cases of Covid 19 reinfection and infections in individuals who have been vaccinated with two doses and also Covid 19 death cases.
The district surveillance officers have been asked to coordinate and send positive samples of Covid 19 with Ct value less than 25 (not applicable for international travelers) to BMCRI, Bengaluru.
The circular however said that as per Government of India guidelines, at present there is no need to panic or immediately ramp up the cross-border (Kerala and Tamil Nadu) surveillance by imposing restrictions, etc.
