BENGALURU: With 38 active cases now in the state—32 of them from Bengaluru—health authorities have issued advisories, opened ICU wards, and urged vulnerable groups to remain cautious.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Karnataka Health Department confirmed the first Covid-19 death in Bengaluru. Sources identified the deceased as an 85-year-old man. The city also accounted for the bulk of the state’s 38 active cases, with 32 currently reported from the capital.
In the last 24 hours, 108 Covid tests were conducted across Karnataka, of which five returned positive. One person was discharged, while two of the new infections were detected in Bengaluru alone.
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Apart from Bengaluru, the districts of Ballari, Bengaluru Rural, Mangaluru, and Vijayanagar each reported one active case, while Mysuru reported two. Belagavi registered a new case involving a pregnant woman who had recently travelled to Pune. In another case, a woman who returned from Mumbai tested positive and is now in home isolation.
In anticipation of further cases, district hospitals such as Dharwad have set up exclusive 10-bed ICU wards for Covid-19 patients. The state’s Technical Advisory Committee has recommended that eight medical colleges across Karnataka commence Covid testing starting Sunday.
Despite the rise, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has downplayed any immediate concerns. “There is nothing to be alarmed about. It’s a very normal situation. There has been a slight increase in the number of Covid-19 cases, with a slight rise over the last 15 days,” he told reporters.
The minister clarified that no restrictions on travel or movement are being considered at this stage. However, he urged people—especially those with low immunity, pregnant women, and children—to consider wearing masks in crowded areas as a precaution.
“However, wearing masks is not compulsory. There are no travel bans or movement restrictions within the city or state,” he said.
He emphasized that Covid testing is only mandatory for cases with Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI), and advised the public to maintain hygiene and follow basic precautions beneficial for preventing not only Covid-19 but also other infectious diseases.
