Active cases near 2 lakh in Karnataka, minister says respite in mid-February

BENGALURU: More than 34,000 fresh cases on Sunday pushed the number of active Covid-19 infections in Karnataka close to the two lakh-mark, with new cases expected to continue rising until the second week of February before dropping.

Health minister K Sudhakar, while reiterating that fresh cases will peak during the second week of February, said they would drop thereafter, bringing down the rate of transmission and severity of infection. At more than 1. 9 lakh, the state’s active case burden increased by nearly 300% in just one week. The number of such cases was 49,602 on January 9.

“Covid-19 is all over the world, but we can be satisfied that due to largescale vaccination we are not seeing hospitalisation like before,” the health minister told reporters at an event on Sunday. “People are experiencing mild symptoms and demand for ICU facilities, beds and oxygen support is limited. Research by the government health committee and Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have indicated that cases will drop post the second and third week of February. We will do everything to successfully maintain public health and order. ”

The health department’s daily bulletin on Sunday showed Bengaluru Urban – as has been the trend – recorded the highest number of new cases on Sunday (21,071), followed by Mysuru (1,892), Tumakuru (1,373) and Hassan (1,171).
The state reported 13 deaths due to Covid-19 on Sunday, five of which were in Bengaluru Urban and two in Dakshina Kannada. The deceased ranged between 40 and 90 years of age and more than half of them had comorbidities.
As per the daily bulletin, the health department had conducted 4,835 counselling sessions as on January 15 and had cumulatively counselled more than 24. 2 lakh patients to date.

In view of escalating cases, the government has appealed to people to isolate themselves in case they have come in contact with a Covid-19 positive person, regardless of whether they have symptoms or not.