Karnataka news live: State reports 4,553 new Covid-19 cases, 15 deaths

With mercury levels soaring day by day, there is a scarcity of drinking water. The water scarcity has badly affected the blackbuck sanctuary at Ranebennur. Blackbucks and birds are facing severe water scarcity for the last month. READ MORE HERE

Karnataka logged 4,373 fresh Covid-19 cases and 19 related fatalities on Saturday, taking the total caseload to over 10 lakh and the toll to 12,610. Hinting at no relaxation in the new set of guidelines issued by the state government, health minister K Sudhakar said they were issued on the advice of the technical advisory committee consisting of experts, after examining the situation, and if things are under control by April 20, activities will be allowed to resume.

The prolonged closure of bars and prohibition on sales of alcoholic beverages in the immediate aftermath of the outbreak of Covid-19 in the beginning of the 2020-21 financial year had raised fears among officials in the excise department over their revenue targets being met. READ MORE HERE

The second wave of Covid-19 and the waiting period after vaccination have shrunk the pool of blood donors, especially from the 45-plus age group. Blood banks, which have been facing supply woes since the pandemic began, are urging younger citizens to come forward. An order issued by the National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC) on March 5 had said that vaccine recipients cannot donate blood for 28 days after taking the second vaccine dose. A person who takes Covishield will not be eligible to donate for nearly three months if they follow the eight-week gap between two doses. In the case of Covaxin, blood donation is not allowed for two months as the break between the doses is four weeks.

More than 1.1 lakh people aged between 45 and 60 years took their first vaccine dose in the state on Saturday. Separately, 80,217 senior citizens also got jabbed. Across categories, over 2 lakh people were administered the vaccine on Saturday, according to the 8pm government update. Increasing the vaccination coverage has become crucial as Covid-19 cases are increasing again. Karnataka has logged 4,373 fresh cases, of which, 3,002 are in Bengaluru. Four other districts reported more than 100 cases: Bidar 172, Mysuru 171, Tumakuru 167, and Kalaburagi 151. The daily positivity rate was 3.5 per cent. With 36,614 cases, Karnataka has the highest active infection burden after Maharahtra.

A month after taking their second vaccine dose, nine health staffers in Hassan have tested positive for Covid-19. Two of them, a nurse and a programme coordinator, have contracted the infection for the second time in five months. Separately, four health workers, who have taken one jab, have been diagnosed with Covid-19. Four of the 13 have been hospitalised. The rest are in home quarantine. “Six staffers have comorbidities. All are showing mild symptoms. Other employees in our office have tested negative,” said district health officer Dr KM Sathish.

The state government’s decision to shut gyms as part of the fresh Covid containment measures has not gone down well with fitness studio operators in Bengaluru. A segment already facing job losses and shutdowns, fitness centres are now grappling with angry new customers who are demanding their membership fee back. READ FULL STORY HERE

With infections soaring in the tech capital, private hospitals have been directed to reserve 40 per cent of their beds for government-referred Covid-19 patients and be ready for a challenging phase. During a virtual meeting on Saturday, officials of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) indicated that private hospitals should be prepared to treat more severe Covid-19 cases in the coming days. Representatives of more than 80 private medical facilities attended the meeting, which was chaired by BBMP chief commissioner Gaurav Gupta. Creating adequate treatment capacity and increasing the vaccination coverage were the two main talking points. READ FULL STORY HERE

Bowing to pressure from the Kannada film industry, particularly the makers of Puneeth Rajkumar-starrer ‘Yuvarathna’, the government on Saturday allowed 100% seating in cinema halls till April 7. Chief secretary P Ravikumar said 50% seating will come into effect from April 7.

KPCC president DK Shivakumar dared chief minister BS Yediyurappa to dismiss rural development and panchayat raj minister KS Eshwarappa if the government is functioning properly else "submit his resignation voluntarily." Read more