Rise in Covid- Cases; Election rallies are likely to become super spreaders; Department of Health

Bengaluru: Karnataka is witnessing a rise in cases of Covid and Influenza fever day by day. Especially when the election in Karnataka is on the threshold, this surge has worried the health department.

All the political parties are holding mega rallies across the state which has made the work of the health department more difficult. The department is only able to make suggestions. However, people should follow them, sources said.

It is impossible to initiate any strict measures to control the public till May 10, when the election will be held and May 13, when the results will be declared. “We are hoping for the best and looking to avoid this as much as possible,” the source said.

Speaking to news agency IANS, Manipal Hospital HOD and Pulmonary Consultant Dr. Satyanarayana Mysore, ‘The number of Covid cases has increased in the last 3 weeks. This is the beginning of the problem. Most people do not get tested because the virus is mild and the symptoms are mild. It is difficult to deal with such a situation.’

“Compared to the actual number of patients coming for tests or treatment, the number of infected people may be even higher. The only requirement this time is to follow Covid-appropriate rules and wear masks. “There is no need to be afraid,” he said.

Manipal Hospital Malleswaram Internal Medicine Consultant Dr. Basavaraja Kuntoji said, ‘Yes, in the last 2-3 weeks we are seeing a very small increase in the number of Covid-19 positive patients and some H3N2 patients and patients coming with common flu. All the covid patients we have seen are fine. They did not have any complications like hypoxia or severe respiratory distress or ARDS. OPD has improved with consultation,’ he said.

But, patients with influenza virus type A and type B or what we call common flu are getting sick. They need hospital. He said very few people infected with this influenza virus require oxygen support.

H3N2 patients tend to improve on their own at home after 2 to 3 days. A few patients required OPD treatment and one or 2 of them required hospitalization and oxygen support. All of them have recovered, Kuntoji said.

Currently, the number of active Covid cases has reached 1,596. The weekly positivity rate has increased to 3.53 percent. The health department is conducting more than 12,000 covid tests every day across the state.

According to the data provided by the Health Department, a total of 40,288 Covid deaths have been reported in the state so far.

At present 979 positive cases have been reported in the state capital Bangalore. Shimoga, Mysore, Chamarajanagar and coastal districts like Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada and Udupi are witnessing an increase in Covid cases.