Bengaluru: Of the 92 active Covid new variant JN.1 cases in Karnataka, Bengaluru has alone 80 active cases followed by Mysuru with 5 cases, Ballari having 3 cases while Mandya and Ramanagar districts have lone cases each. Since December 15, Karnataka reported three deaths and all the deaths have been reported in Bengaluru city.
At a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at his official residence ‘Krishna’ in Bengaluru city on Thursday, officials concerned brought to the notice of the Chief Minister that 72 infected persons have been under home isolation and 20 others are being treated at designated hospitals. 7 persons are in Intensive Care Units.
The Chief Minister was told by officials concerned that daily tests have been increased to 5,000 in which 1,500 are Rapid Antigen Tests and 3,500 RT PCR. In Bengaluru city, 1,000 tests have been conducted daily and tests have also been carried out in border areas of Chamarajnagar, Mysuru and Dakshina Kannada sharing border with Kerala where more active Covid cases have been reported. Kerala has active Covid cases of 2041, Tamil Nadu having 77 cases, Maharashtra-35 and Goa 23 cases.
Stating that Karnataka has no financial constraints in dealing with Covid new variant, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said a Technical sub-committee will be constituted which will be in constant touch with State’s Technical Advisory Committee to monitor Covid cases on a regular basis.
Though, the new Covid variant is not a threat, said the Chief Minister but asked the people to be cautious and wear face masks especially persons above 60 years when going in places of public congregation.
The Chief Minister wanted more tests to be conducted in border areas and stated that Kerala has been conducting more tests and so the active Covid have been more in that State. A similar situation would emerge in Karnataka if more tests are conducted in coming days. After monitoring the situation, he said to fix designated hospitals to treat Covid infected persons in the State and asked officials concerned to keep vaccinations ready.
