Bengaluru reports first COVID-19 death; 38 active cases in state
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Bengaluru has reported its first COVID-19 death, according to an official statement from the Karnataka Health Department. The deceased is an 85-year-old man who passed away on Saturday. In the last 24 hours, 108 people were tested for COVID-19, with five new positive cases identified. One patient was discharged, bringing the total number of active cases in the state to 38.
Of these active cases, 32 are from Bengaluru, where 92 tests were conducted, resulting in two positive cases in the past day. Other districts reporting active cases include Ballari, Bengaluru Rural, Mangaluru, and Vijayanagar, each with one active case, while Mysuru has two active cases.
Health officials also reported that a woman who recently returned from Mumbai tested positive and is currently in home isolation. In Belagavi, a pregnant woman who had travelled to Pune last month has also tested positive.
Several district hospitals, including Dharwad, have established dedicated 10-bed ICU wards exclusively for treating COVID-19 patients. Additionally, the state’s Technical Advisory Committee has recommended that COVID-19 testing begin at eight medical colleges across Karnataka starting Sunday.
Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao addressed the recent rise in COVID-19 cases, stating there is no cause for alarm despite the slight increase in cases over the past 15 days. Speaking to the media in Bengaluru on Saturday, he reassured the public, saying, “There is nothing to be alarmed about. It’s a very normal situation.”
Minister Rao added that the Technical Advisory Committee has issued guidelines advising testing for those with severe respiratory illnesses, especially hospitalized patients. He urged people with low immunity, those on immunosuppressant drugs, pregnant women, and children to exercise caution in crowded places and to wear masks as a precaution, though mask-wearing is not mandatory. He clarified that no travel bans or movement restrictions are currently in place within the city or state.
Reiterating that daily life should continue normally, Minister Rao stated, “So far, 257 cases have been reported across the country, with none showing serious symptoms. Only mild symptoms have been detected, so there is no need to panic.” He emphasised that Covid-19 has become endemic, now a part of the system like other viruses, and that vigilance remains crucial in case a new or severe variant emerges.
Testing is mandatory only for Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) cases. Standard preventive measures such as hand hygiene remain important, not just for COVID-19 but for other infections as well.
The Karnataka Health Department’s recent advisory noted a gradual increase in COVID-19 cases in Bengaluru over the past 20 days, urging continued caution and vigilance.
With IANS inputs
