South K’taka reports 21 fresh cases, all returning migrants from Maharashtra

Mysuru: Three districts in South Karnataka, two of which were grouped under ‘Green Zone’ until a fortnight ago, accounted for 21 of the 69 positive cases reported across the state on Friday. Interestingly, the common denominator among all 21 individuals was that they had all returned from Mumbai. While seven people tested positive in Hassan, Shivamogga had one case but it was Mandya that accounted for the bulk of the cases with 13. Across Karnataka, returning migrants from Mumbai accounted for 30% of the people who tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Of the 13 new cases reported in Mandya on Friday is a six-year-old kid. Interestingly, this is the first instance of the district in the Cauvery Delta reporting ten or more cases in a single day. As on Friday, the total number of Covid-19 cases registered in the district is 49, among whom 19 have recovered and been discharged.
Those who have tested positive in the district had all been long-time residents of Mumbai, and returned to their respective homes in KR Pet and Nagamangala taluks. “Most of those who have tested positive are asymptomatic who have been quarantined after testing positive. There have been instances of many people returning to their villages without intimating the authorities, and that poses a huge threat to containing the disease,” said a senior official in the district administration.
In Hassan district, the authorities have their task cut out, tracing suspects and contacts of the 16 patients who have tested positive. As of now, around 170 people suspected of having the infection have been quarantined at the designated Covid-19 hospital. In all, 16 cases have been reported in Hassan in a mere four days. Hassan deputy commissioner Girish said that those confirmed with the infection had travelled only within the borders of Hassan. “Given that the cases are rising, we have reserved as many as 400 beds at the Covid-19 hopsital just in case,” the DC said.
A 33-year-old man and his seven-year-old son from Mumbai to Channarayapatna are among those who tested positive in Hassan. The father-son duo travelled back to Hassan by a four-wheeler that transported eight passengers in all. In another case, a 24-year-old woman tested positive, while her husband and daughter have both seemed negative, but have been quarantined.
In Shivamogga too, the 42-year-old man who was the solitary case reported in the district had returned from Mumbai. Shivamogga DC KB Sivakumar said that the patient was a native of Ranjadakatte in Theerthahalli taluk, and the village was now sealed. He added that all commercial establishments in the taluk would be closed from 1pm from Saturday.
-(With inputs from Darshan BH and KR Rajendrakumar)