Bengaluru: Registering yet another spike in numbers, Karnataka logged 32,793 new Covid-19 cases and seven fatalities, taking the tally to 31,86,040 and the death count to 38,418. The state, which has been witnessing a steady surge in cases since the last week of December, had recorded 28,723 fresh infections earlier.
Of the new cases, 22,284 were from Bengaluru Urban that saw 2,479 people being discharged and five deaths. The total number of active cases across the state is now 1,69,850. There were 4,273 discharges, taking the total number of recoveries to 29,77,743, a health department bulletin said.
While the positivity rate for the day stood at 15 per cent, the case fatality rate (CFR) was 0.02 per cent. Of the seven deaths, five are from Bengaluru Urban and one each from Chikkaballapura and Mysuru. Apart from Bengaluru Urban, Tumakuru recorded the second highest of 1,326 new cases, Hassan 968, Dakshina Kannada 792, Mysuru 729, and Mandya 718.
Covid cases in Kerala
Kerala Health Minister Veena George said the Covid clusters in the state were increasing and warned that there are chances of a rapid spread of coronavirus within the next three weeks. Veena said there are currently 78 Covid clusters in the state.
"There are chances that within the next three weeks, the Covid cases in the state will witness a major spike. There is a chance of rapid spread of the virus in the state. Every day, the Covidcases are increasing in the state. There are Delta, Omicron variants on top of that," Veena.
The minister said the health department will ensure that Covid protocols are being followed by the political parties, including ruling CPI(M). The health department and the Left party was under attack from various quarters following the recent Thiruvathira dance performance which was held as part of the district meet of the CPI(M).
Tamil Nadu records drop in cases
After nearly 20 days, Tamil Nadu reported a drop in fresh cases to 23,975 compared to 23,989 earlier. Cases in Chennai (8,987), nevertheless continued to increase along with 18 other districts. Chennai's test positivity rate is around 30%. This means every third person who was tested was found to be infected. Vandalur zoo was closed after 80 employees got infected. Also, of the 22 deaths in Tamil Nadu, 10 were in Chennai. After Chennai, the highest number of fresh cases were reported from Chengalpet (2,701), Coimbatore (1,866) and Tiruvallur (1,273). The sharpest increase was in Tenkasi, where there were 194 new cases. The rapid increase in daily cases pushed up the total number of active cases to more than 142,000. Hospital occupancy increased from 7,811 to 8,018.
