Karnataka records new Covid spike; thousands of patients ‘vanish’

Bengaluru: Karnataka, like the other southern states, recorded the highest number of Covid-19 cases on a single day with 5030 testing positive on Thursday taking the total number of active cases to nearly 50K while the overall tally crossed 80K.

There were 97 Covid deaths on Thursday, taking the toll to 1616.

Bengaluru continued to report the highest number of new Covid cases and Covid deaths — 2207 and 48 respectively. The capital city has a case load of 39,200 and total deaths at 783.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that nearly 20,000 positive cases in Bengaluru have gone off the health radar; in other words, they just vanished.

An analysis of active cases, bed availability and occupancy, and those in home isolation as mentioned in the Bengaluru Covid-19 War Room Bulletin shows that thousands of patients are off the city’s healthcare radar because of the mismanagement.

According to the health bulletin, Bengaluru has 39,200 active cases. But the total number of beds in hospitals (including Covid Care Centres) was 14K+ of which only about 7000 + were occupied. Over 10k patients are in home isolation. While the number of patients in hospitals and home isolation added to around 17K, the number of active cases in the city was 39,200. So where are the remaining 22,000 patients?

Sources say that there is some big time goof up in the numbers. “It could be data mismanagement or a reporting lag related to bed management. Our officials will look into it,” ToI quoted ministers.

The big question before Bengaluru is: If bed occupancy is low and not everyone is in home isolation, where have thousands of Covid patients gone?

Officials attribute the missing patients to the wrong mobile numbers and addresses provided by them. “Nearly 80% have given wrong mobile numbers and address while undergoing Covid tests. It is a challenge to track them. Police are helping us and we will set right the data flow in two days,” an official was quoted.

Meanwhile, actor and Member of Parliament from Mandya, Sumalatha Ambareesh took to social media to announce that she has completed her mandatory quarantine period, and has tested negative now. She has been advised to rest for another four to six weeks to ensure her full recovery.