BackThree more test positive for COVID-19 in Karnataka
Karnataka state has strengthened all surveillance and containment measures against the possible spread of diseaseIn the past 24 hours, 1 positive from Kerala, 2 positives from Pune, Maharashtra and 3 positives from Bengaluru, Karnataka have been confirmed
PremiumBENGALURU : Three fresh cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) were confirmed positive on Tuesday in Karnataka, taking the total in the state to four.
The three new confirmed cases include the 47 year old wife and 13 year old daughter of a senior executive at a large software firm who tested positive for the virus on Monday, state health officials said.
The fourth patient is a 50 year old male, who also has a travel history from USA to India via London but is not related to the patient who tested positive earlier, according to at least four people directly aware of the developments.
The three fresh cases reported in Karnataka and six in neighbouring Kerala on Tuesday takes the national tally to 53 cases in the country so far.
Karnataka chief minister B.S.Yediyurappa on Tuesday said that the government had taken extensive measures to contain the spread of the virus and those who have tested positive were being given proper medical care and assistance.
“The condition of all patients who tested positive are showing good signs of recovery," K.Sudhakar, Karnataka’s medical education minister said on Tuesday.
The fresh positive cases of COVID-19 adds to the fears that engulfs the spread of the virus in India. Globally, around 100,000 are infected in 100 countries and have so far claimed nearly 4000 lives. The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Monday said that there was now a "very real" threat that the new coronavirus outbreak will become a pandemic, but stressed the virus could still be controlled.
Meanwhile, 58 Indians were brought back home today from coronavirus-hit Iran in a military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
There have been no deaths reported in India due to coronavirus so far.
The driver and three members of his family who drove the first positive patient, are asymptomatic and are home isolation, health officials said. Passengers who travelled with the fist patient have also tested negative, one health official said, requesting not to be named.
A total of 2666 people, who may have come in some form of physical contact with the first positive patient, are being tracked and monitored, officials shared.
The 46-year old patient, an employee with Dell India who tested positive on Monday, had flown from Austin to New York on 28 February and then to Dubai before landing in Bengaluru on 1 March. At the time of screening, he didn't show any symptoms of the deadly virus. He had also gone to office for at least two days before falling sick and getting admitted on 5 March. He was later shifted to Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases in Bengaluru.
In a statement on Tuesday, Dell India said that two employees of the company were tested after their return from America including the company headquarters in Round Rock, Texas.
“One employee tested negative; another tested positive and has since been placed in quarantine," the company said in a statement.
The company added that team members in Bengaluru who may have come into contact with the affected employees are working remotely and that Dell’s local environment, health and safety team is in contact with these team members to closely monitor their well-being.
According to the state health department, 1048 persons have been identified for observation while 275 persons have completed 28 days of observation. Another 760 persons are still in home quarantine and nine people are admitted at hospitals.
A total of 95,151 passengers have been screened in Karnataka including 64,343 passengers (cumulative) in Bengaluru and 25,440 in Mangaluru. A total of 5,368 passengers have been screened at Mangalore and Karwar seaports.
The fourth person who tested positive in Karnataka today, is an employee of Mindtree Ltd in Bengaluru.
“... It is quite unfortunate that one of our employees returning from an overseas trip tested positive for Covid-19 on 10 March. The employee along with his family members are under quarantine and medical supervision. All measures are being taken to provide the best of medical care to him and his family. The employee self-isolated himself upon return from the trip and did not visit the office or meet any other Mindtree colleagues," Paneesh Rao, Chief People Officer, Mindtree said in an emailed statement.
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