COVID-19: Karnataka aims to conduct 80,000 tests in three weeks

In view of rising cases of coronavirus, the Karnataka government’s COVID-19 task force is planning to conduct 80,000 throat swab and blood tests over the next three weeks.

Reports say the task force has placed orders for 1 lakh antibody test kits which are expected to arrive on April 12. In addition to this, health officials in some clinics and hospitals are being trained to conduct the tests.

Approximately, 1.2 lakh people arrived in the state from abroad between January 20 and  March 23. Of this, around 37,000 people are under observation.

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According to data issued by the Karnataka health department, out of 151 patients, 12 have been discharged and 135 are active cases. Four people have died in the state so far.

The deaths took place in Kalaburagi, Tumakuru, Chikkaballapura and Bagalkote.

The state capital Bengaluru is the most affected with 57 positive COVID-19 cases. Other cases have been reported from Mysuru (28), Dakshina Kannada (12), Bidar (10), Uttaara Kannada (8), Belgavai (7), Ballari (6), Kalaburagi (5), three each from Davangere and Udupi and one each from Dharwad, Kodagu, Tumakuru, Bagalkote and Bengaluru rural.

On Sunday (April 5), the Department of Health and Family Welfare decided to rope in volunteers for crowd management, food management, mobility and data entry, to work in the event of a more widespread COVID-19 outbreak in Bengaluru.

On Monday (April 6), Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa ordered officials to ensure that a 100 per cent lockdown is implemented across the state. He also said that the issue of whether to extend the lockdown or not will be examined carefully.

The chief minister stressed that everyone should strictly follow the rules during the lockdown and people should keep in mind that there is a huge danger if they violate the regulations.

(With inputs from agencies)

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