BELAGAVI: Tests on swab samples of people dying in road accidents and of snakebite in many North Karnataka districts are showing up positive for Covid-19, an indication that not enough tests are being conducted and, possibly, the virus is now in community transmission.
Bizarrely though, these deaths are being attributed to the virus and are being counted as Covid-19 deaths by the health department although these people are dying on non-Covid causes. Swab samples are being taken and tested as a matter of protocol.
Until Sunday morning, Bidar had 54 deaths chalked up against the pandemic, but at least three died in road accidents and one of snakebite. All four were brought dead to Bidar Institute of Medical Sciences (BRIMS). Tests on their samples showed the presence of the virus. The health department, however, listed these deaths under Covid, resulting in the tally of Covid-19 deaths in the state being inflated.
Bidar district health officer (DHO) VG Reddy admitted at least 10 deaths were not due to the virus. “Since RT-PCR tests on swab samples taken from these victims show the presence of SARS-Cov-2, they are being categorized as Covid deaths,” Reddy said. “The virus appears to be in the community which is why bodies are showing presence of the virus.”
B Devanand, director of Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) in Ballari, said an accident patient admitted to VIMS a few days ago, tested positive for the virus. He said the test was conducted to rule out infection as surgery had to be conducted. He went on to say other patients visiting the hospital for consults on different ailments are also testing positive.
“We conduct tests on the dead to contain the spread and as a safety measure,” Devanand said. “Since brought dead cases are turning up positive, deaths are more in absolute numbers,” he said. Ballari has reported 57 Covid-19 deaths so far.
Belagavi DHO Shashikanth Muniyal said in his district too, which has seen 24 Covid deaths, there are instances of people being brought dead – they died due to non-Covid reasons – testing positive. While he did not divulge the exact number, Muniyal suggested there may be five to eight such cases in the district. “Anyone dying with the presence of virus is being categorized as a Covid death,” he said.
Dr Chakrapani M, a Mangaluru-based general physician, said in Dakshina Kannada (DK) a patient died a week ago due to gangrene, but his death was recorded as a Covid-19 fatality.
“The administration in the state should understand that there is a difference between people dying due to the virus and people dying with the virus,” Chakrapani said. He said the death audit which happens in every district should bifurcate such cases to obtain a true picture of deaths caused by the virus. So far, a total of 60 deaths have been attribute to the virus in DK district.
Bizarrely though, these deaths are being attributed to the virus and are being counted as Covid-19 deaths by the health department although these people are dying on non-Covid causes. Swab samples are being taken and tested as a matter of protocol.
Until Sunday morning, Bidar had 54 deaths chalked up against the pandemic, but at least three died in road accidents and one of snakebite. All four were brought dead to Bidar Institute of Medical Sciences (BRIMS). Tests on their samples showed the presence of the virus. The health department, however, listed these deaths under Covid, resulting in the tally of Covid-19 deaths in the state being inflated.
Bidar district health officer (DHO) VG Reddy admitted at least 10 deaths were not due to the virus. “Since RT-PCR tests on swab samples taken from these victims show the presence of SARS-Cov-2, they are being categorized as Covid deaths,” Reddy said. “The virus appears to be in the community which is why bodies are showing presence of the virus.”
B Devanand, director of Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS) in Ballari, said an accident patient admitted to VIMS a few days ago, tested positive for the virus. He said the test was conducted to rule out infection as surgery had to be conducted. He went on to say other patients visiting the hospital for consults on different ailments are also testing positive.
“We conduct tests on the dead to contain the spread and as a safety measure,” Devanand said. “Since brought dead cases are turning up positive, deaths are more in absolute numbers,” he said. Ballari has reported 57 Covid-19 deaths so far.
Belagavi DHO Shashikanth Muniyal said in his district too, which has seen 24 Covid deaths, there are instances of people being brought dead – they died due to non-Covid reasons – testing positive. While he did not divulge the exact number, Muniyal suggested there may be five to eight such cases in the district. “Anyone dying with the presence of virus is being categorized as a Covid death,” he said.
Dr Chakrapani M, a Mangaluru-based general physician, said in Dakshina Kannada (DK) a patient died a week ago due to gangrene, but his death was recorded as a Covid-19 fatality.
“The administration in the state should understand that there is a difference between people dying due to the virus and people dying with the virus,” Chakrapani said. He said the death audit which happens in every district should bifurcate such cases to obtain a true picture of deaths caused by the virus. So far, a total of 60 deaths have been attribute to the virus in DK district.
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