Karnataka’s Covid -19 tally crossed the 16,00,000 mark following 44,438 fresh infections while 239 more deaths took the toll to 16,011, the health department said. According to a health bulletin, the state’s Covid tally stood at 16,01,865 whereas there are 4,21,436 active cases. As many as 11,64,398 people were discharged cumulatively including 21,149 on Sunday in the state. Bengaluru Urban district accounted for 21,199 fresh cases and 64 deaths. The city has so far reported 7,97,292 infections and 6,601 deaths. There were 2,81,767 active cases.
In some respite, the second wave of Covid-19 infections will begin to recede in Bengaluru - a hotspot in the country - from next week, projections made by experts advising the state government suggest. They say the capital city will see a 10% to 20% decline in fresh cases by May 8. April, which has been the worst month of the pandemic so far in Karnataka with the number of infections crossing 500,000, had a silver lining: For the first time since the outbreak, the state conducted more than 40,00,000 tests in just one month. Kodagu, which virtually escaped unscathed during the first wave of the pandemic, is now facing a monumental problem as one in every four people tested in the district is returning positive.
Strict restrictions in Kerala
The Kerala government is considering imposing a complete lockdown in districts where the Covid-19 positivity rate is very high. The Pinarayi Vijayan government said that strict restrictions will be imposed in districts where the positivity rate is above 50 per cent from May 4. "The surge in the Covid-19 cases shows that the situation in the state is going worse. In this context, the interventions have been strengthened at all levels. Apart from the restrictions announced earlier, a full lockdown may have to be imposed in some districts where the Test Positivity Rate is exceeding 50 per cent. We will be going for more stringent restrictions from May 4," Vijayan said.
Meanwhile, Kerala reported 31,959 new Covid -19 cases, when 1,12,635 samples were tested. The average test positivity rate, which had stabilised around 25%, rose to 28.37% . The active case pool of the State now has 3,39,441 patients. Hospital and ICU admissions are rising steadily. The number of Covid patients currently being treated in hospitals in the State has risen to 26,169, with 3,371 patients getting newly admitted to hospitals. The State added 49 new deaths which had occurred over the past few days to its official Covid toll, taking the cumulative toll of fatalities in the State to 5,405.
20,952 fresh cases in TN
Tamil Nadu recorded 20,952 positive cases, bringing the state tally to 12,28,064. Among these, Chennai reported 6150 positive cases, bringing the city’s total to 3,52,260. The state recorded 122 deaths, putting the state toll at 14,468. A total of 18,016 patients were discharged following treatment, taking the total number of recoveries to 10,90,338.
