Covid-19 spreading to districts in Karnataka

Karnataka Tuesday reported 7665 new Covid positive cases and 139 deaths. Bulk of the cases and deaths came from Bengaluru – 2242 and 49 respectively.

Even as Bengaluru remains the epicentre of the Covid pandemic quake, the ripples are also being felt in districts.

Nearly 60 percent of daily infections in the state now occur outside Bengaluru. If this trend continues, rural and semi-urban areas will account for about 80 per cent of the total caseload by month-end, according to members of the Covid-19 task force.

The districts are also recording more Covid-related deaths. Twenty-nine districts collectively recorded about 1,000 deaths a month ago. The figure, as on August 17, stood at 2,579. Bengaluru Urban has seen over 1,532 deaths till date.

Among the districts, Mysuru has reported the highest number of fatalities (309 as on August 17), followed by Dakshina Kannada (275), Dharwad (239), Kalaburagi (170) and Ballari (169)

Ballari (14,507) leads in the caseload, followed by Mysuru (11,132), Kalaburagi (9,036), Dakshina Kannada (9,017), Udupi (8,242), Belagavi (7,965) and Dharwad (7,855). The districts reporting a high growth rate lately (over 5 per cent) are: Davangere, Koppal, Belagavi, Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Ballari, Mysuru, Gadag and Haveri.

The surging infection numbers have put dedicated Covid-19 hospitals under pressure.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka government Tuesday said it is planning to install oxygen plants across medical colleges and hospitals.

This follows reports of Covid patients being shifted to other hospitals following disruptions in oxygen supply.

“Officials have been directed to make necessary arrangements to ensure an adequate supply of liquid oxygen to all hospitals in the state. Measures will also be taken to establish new liquid oxygen plants to meet the high demand,” Medical Education Minister Sudhakar said.

He admitted that there is a lack of oxygen supply in hospitals “as the number of cases has increased.” He added, “We are taking measures to establish oxygen plants at all medical hospitals across the state. We are in contact with private firms that supply liquid oxygen. The Principal Secretary of Industries & Commerce Department is already in touch with them.”

Karnataka has also requested the Centre to help in setting up more liquid oxygen plants in the state.