15 new COVID-19 cases reported in Karnataka, total 247

(Eds: Combines related stories) Bengaluru, Apr 13 () Fifteen new positive cases ofcoronavirus have been confirmed in Karnataka, taking the totalnumber of affected in the state to 247 on Monday as thegovernment ruled out any community transmission. The government also said there was an increase in thenumber of people being cured of the coronavirus infectionin recent days with the total so far reaching 60. Voicing concern that the COVID-19 situation has thrown thestate into a deep financial trouble, Chief Minister B SYediyurappa said there was a need to to find ways to overcomethe crisis and announced certain measures aimed at resourcemobilisation.

As of 5 PM on April 13, cumulatively 247 COVID-19positive cases had been confirmed in the state and it includedsix deaths and 60 discharges, a deparment bulletin said. The active COVID-19 cases stood at 181 with 177 patients,including one pregnant woman, in isolation wards at designatedhospitals and stable while four others in the intensive careunits. "In the last five days our growth rate of cases is 6.42per cent, we stand at 11th place (in the country in number ofcases)," Primary and Secondary Education Minister Suresh Kumarsaid during a media briefing. Pointing out that the number of discharges after treatmenthas seen a steady increase in the last few days, he said, "Inthe last four days itself 30 people have been discharged afterrecovery. I'm happy to see this." On the source of infection in a few cases not being knownyet, he said, efforts were on to find it out and ruled out anypossibility of community infection in the state."We have notreached that stage." He said, according to statistics that the government has,Karnataka's rate of positive cases is 2.5 per cent, whileKerala is 2.63 per cent, Rajasthan is 2.82 per cent,Maharashtra is 5.53 per cent, Delhi is 9.13 per cent and TamilNadu is 11.52 per cent.

Among the 15 new cases in the state, thirteen arecontacts of patients already tested positive, while one fromDodabballapura in Bengaluru Rural is with a travel history toDelhi, the other from Bengaluru city has Severe AcuteRespiratory Infection (SARI).

Among the 13 contact cases tested positive four are fromHubballi in Dharwad district, three each from Malavalli inMandya district and Raibag in Belagavi district, two each fromBidar, and one from Mudhol in Bagalkote district. Contact tracing had been initiated and was in progress forall the cases, the department said. Nine out of total 247 cases detected and confirmed inKarnataka so far are transit passengers of Kerala beingtreated in the state.

Most number of infections have been reported in Bengaluruwith 77, followed by Mysuru (48) and Belagavi (17). Among the dead, two are from Kalaburagi and one each fromBengaluru, Bagalkote, Gadag and Tumakuru.

A total of 10,017 samples were collected for testing sofar, out of which 766 were collected on Monday alone. So far 9,572 samples have reported as negative and out ofthem 741 reported negative on Monday.

Suresh Kumar said the rapid testing kits supposeed toarrive in Karnataka from China have been delayed. "It was expected today, but due to change of someregulations by the Chinese government regarding exports, it isdelayed. We may get in a week's time."

Responding to a question on Tablighi Jamaat cases, Kumarsaid, so far 1,330 samples have been tested, out of this 40were positive, 1,252 negative. Asked whether the government was planning to mark thestate into red, orange and green zones to enforce lockdownbased on the gravity of the situation during the next twoweeks, he said, "we are working at it, we will let you know." Yediyurappa, who held a meeting here on resourcemobilisation, said the government was awaiting guidelines fromthe Centre regarding the implementation of lockdown during thenext two weeks, and noted that discussions were on regardingrelaxations on the sale of liquor and the decision will betaken after April 14. The decisions taken at the meeting included speeding upthe disposal of cases related to regularisation ofunauthorised constructions which are pending before courts,auctioning more than 12,000 corner sites lying idle inBengaluru and also elsewhere in the state.

The Chief Minister also launched CORONA Helpdesk inpartnership with WhatsApp, for latest updates and facts onCOVID-19.

Public are requested to get benefited by texting Hi to8750971717 & for facebook users : KarnatakaVarthe.Official.

Commissioner of BBMP (Bengaluru civic body) has orderedall private health care facilities not to deny essential andcritical emergency Services to any patients citing ongoingsituation of COVID-19.

All such patients must be promptly attended and providedwith necessary consultation and treatment, it said.

The state government also announced formation of a six-member committee of experts to analyse the coronavirus relateddata in the state and advise government on the interventionsto be initiated. KSUVS VS