Karnataka logs over 3,000 Covid-19 cases for first time in four months

Evidence that Karnataka is in the midst of a surge was highlighted on Sunday, after data showed that there has been a 69.2% jump in cases over the last seven days, compared to the previous week.

The increase came as Bengaluru Urban registered its highest single-day caseload in four-and-a-half months.

In the course of the last one week, the state registered 16,810 new Covid-19 cases, which is nearly double the number of cases recorded in the week of March 14 to 21 during which 9,930 cases were found.

Read | Over 470 children below 10 years infected with Covid-19 in Bengaluru since March 1

On Sunday, the state reported 3,082 new cases, out of which 65% (2,004 cases) were from Bengaluru Urban. This is the highest single-day Covid increase in the city since November 1 when 2,167 cases were found. State-wide, it is the highest increase since November 5, when 3,165 cases were recorded.

The next highest numbers were reported in Kalaburagi district with 159 cases followed by Udupi 115 and Mysuru 114. The state’s active caseload has now increased to 23,037. In contrast, just two weeks ago, it stood at 8,364.

These additional cases were found through a 22.8% increase in testing rates statewide -- from 5.9 lakh tests over seven days between March 15 and 21 to 7.25 lakh conducted last week.

Also Read | Covid-19: Asymptomatic tests higher than symptomatic tests in Karnataka

The state also discharged 1,285 people on Sunday, out of which 786 were in Bengaluru Urban. Alarmingly, the number of Covid-19 deaths have risen since March 18. On Sunday, 12 new deaths were reported, out of which only one had occurred on Sunday.

Seven of the fatalities had taken place on Saturday. The youngest was a 45-year-old man who died at a private hospital in Kalaburagi, three days after diagnosis. He had symptoms of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI).

ICU cases soar

The number of ICU cases have climbed sharply since March 16. Across the state, it has jumped from 129 on that day to 204 on Sunday. In Bengaluru Urban, the cases have jumped by 54.9% (from 51 on March 16 to 79 as of Sunday).

Meantime, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), said it had conducted 56,268 tests over the last 24 hour period. Bellandur, HSR Layout, RR Nagar, Koramangala, Arekere and Shantala Nagar Wards reported the highest number of cases over the last 10 days.

The city’s test positive rate currently stands at 1.94%.