Covid-19 positive cluster grows bigger in Mysuru, Karnataka tally climbs to 88

Bengaluru did not report any fresh cases.

Four out of the five people who tested positive on Monday, were primary contacts of a patient, who is a pharmaceutical company executive from Mysuru.

A 35-year old male from a pharmaceutical company in Nanjangud, had tested positive on 26 March. He had no known travel history outside of India and his testing positive had sparked off fears that there was a possibility of community transmission. This person was in the contact of several health professionals.

This cluster in Mysuru is turning out to be one of the largest in the state with a total of at least nine people tracing their infections to one person. All employees of the pharmaceutical company will be under observation while at least 900 of them are under home quarantine, according to the district administration.

The city now has 12 positive cases as against Bengaluru that has 41 in total.

The family members of positive patients have also tested positive. The 13-year old son of the patient from Tumakuru has also tested positive. The father died due to the virus on 28 March.

Karnataka chief minister B.S.Yediyurappa on Monday reiterated to remain indoors until the period of the lockdown.

“At this hour of crisis, it is not good on our part to come out of houses and violate the curfew. Ending of lock down depends on strictness with which one follows the curfew and maintains the social distance. If one follows the curfew strictly, lock down period will automatically end on April 14. Whether to end the lock down or not is in your hands," Yediyurappa said in a statement.

He added that it was not right on the part of people to test the patience of the police by spilling into the streets at the time of a lockdown. “Already our police are under stress as they are working without any rest .Don't force them to use the force and later blame them for stern action," he said.

Yediyurappa appealed that people should spend this time by reading books and enhancing their own knowledge. “My earnest request to even (the) poor is spend your time by involving yourselves in creative activities inside your houses," he said.