Bengaluru: The coronavirus toll in Karnataka breached the 25,000-mark as the state reported 626 new fatalities, while 25,979 infections were added afresh. The number of recoveries continued to outnumber new cases, with 35,573 patients getting discharged, as the total number of infections in the state stood at 24,24,000, the state health department said.
Out of the 25,979 new cases, 7,494 were from Bengaluru Urban, as the city saw 12,407 discharges and 362 deaths. As of May 23 evening, cumulatively 24,24,904 Covid-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 25,282 deaths and 19,26,615 discharges. Total number of active cases in the state stood at 4,72,986. While the positivity rate for the day stood at 20.76 per cent, case fatality rate (CFR) was at 2.40 per cent.
Among 626 deaths, 362 are from Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural 30, Mysuru 22, Ballari 18, Uttara Kannada 17, Kalaburagi 15, followed by others. Among the districts where the new cases were reported, Bengaluru Urban accounted for 7,494, Mysuru 2,222, Hassan 1,618, Tumakuru 1,269, Ballari 1,190, Belagavi 1,066, followed by others.
Tamil Nadu extends lockdown
The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday extended the full lockdown in the state by another week amid a crippling second Covid wave sweeping the country. The previous lockdown was to end on May 24. The state reported 467 new deaths, a 17.6 per cent increase over 397 reported a day ago, as it registered 36,184 new cases, the health department's data showed. The number of new infections was 1 per cent higher than the earlier days tally of 35,579, which was its highest ever.
There are currently 2,74,629 active coronavirus cases in the state with a positivity rate of 21.8 per cent. According to the new guidelines, shops will remain for two days to help public stock up on things. Mobile outlets, through the network of local bodies, will help supply vegetables and fruits in Chennai and across the state, said the government. All malls have been ordered to stay shut.
Spike in Kerala Covid deaths
The spike in daily Covid deaths in Kerala continued as the state reported 188 deaths over the past 24 hours. The number of new infections dipped, with 17,821 new cases reported on Monday. The state government, meanwhile, extended the lockdown restrictions till May 30. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the media that the "triple lockdown" in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Thrissur will be withdrawn as the positivity rate and active caseload have come down in these districts. Normal lockdown restrictions will be in place in these districts. The triple lockdown in Malappuram, however, will continue.
In a deviation from the trend seen during the first wave of Covid, when Kerala was able to keep the death count low despite a surge in infection, the second wave has pushed up the daily death count in the state. The state's daily death count crossed 100 for the first time on Wednesday when it reported 112 deaths over 24 hours. The number climbed to 128 on Thursday and 196 on Monday. The total Covid death count in the state is now over 7,000.
