Karnataka sees nearly 1.5K cases, eight new deaths as infections continue to rise

This is for the third consecutive day that the state is reporting over 1,000 new cases

Karnataka reported 1,488 Covid cases here on Thursday. This is the third consecutive day on which the State reported over a 1,000 cases. The positivity rate for the day stood at 1.59%.

Munish Moudgil, head of the State Covid-19 war room said, "Positivity Rate is growing. The primary control is in the hands of individual citizens who must do the following: wear a mask whenever they step outside their homes, avoid undue contact and crowds, and always maintain six-feet distance, and sanitise hands regularly and not touch face or eyes."

"All eligible persons must immediately and urgently get vaccinated. Present Covid cases' pattern seen is that whole families are testing positive. Reason: Inside the house, people are failing to isolate anyone with Covid or Covid-like symptoms -- a basic requirement, and Covid prevention behaviour is not being followed. Citizens control or spread Covid by their own individual behaviour," he added.

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The State reported eight Covid fatalities, taking the caseload to 9,65,102 and the toll to 12,415 on Thursday.

The day also saw 341 patients getting discharged after recovery. Bengaluru Urban, with 925 cases, continued to top the state in the number of infections. Cumulatively, 9,41,309 have recovered in the State.

Of the 11,359 active cases, 131 are in intensive care units. Bengaluru Urban reported seven of the eight deaths on Thursday, the other being in Bidar.

Among districts, Dakshina Kannada reported 64 cases, Kalaburagi 59, Mysuru 49, and Vijayapura 46. A total of 2,01,01,442 samples have been tested so far, out of which 93,370 were tested on Thursday alone, which is 6,630 samples short of the one lakh testing target that the State currently has.

The state has, so far, has vaccinated 19,97,005 people, with 76,018 being vaccinated on Wednesday alone. The State's vaccination target per day as announced by the CM is three lakh inoculations.

Seventh AEFI death reported from Karnataka in Belagavi

Seventh AEFI (Adverse Event Following Immunisation) death was reported from Karnataka here on Thursday.

A 69-year-old gram panchayat member from Katakat village in Belagavi district was vaccinated with Covishield on March 15 at 4 pm. He was vaccinated at a primary health centre in Katakat. Post vaccination till 11.30 pm he was normal until he complained of abdominal discomfort, burning sensation, and uneasiness in the chest region and sweating.

He is a chronic alcoholic according to the State health department. On March 16, at midnight, he vomited and an hour later died at home. Family members have refused post mortem. The district AEFI committee meeting concluded that this death is coincidental and not related to vaccination. The cause of death is due to Severe Acute Myocardial Infarction (heart attack).

The most recent death occurred in Ramanagar district on Wednesday. The fifth death occurred in Bengaluru on February 28. A 71-year-old man died 18 days post first dose. The other four deaths took place in Ballari, Shivamogga, Belagavi and Chikkabalapur.