Karnataka Covid news live: Former CM and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy tests positive

Following BS Yediyurappa’s positive test, officials of the health department were left staring at a contact tracing nightmare as the chief minister had interacted with numerous officials, elected representatives and leaders of religious institutions, besides scores of voters while campaigning in the byelections. Yediyurappa had met with about 70 Lingayat pontiffs at Hukkeri Hiremath, a mutt, on Thursday to seek their help in the polls, and also came in contact with many district party functionaries and hundreds of party workers.

Lack of safety gear including PPE kits, sanitisers and pay arrears were the primary topics of discussion at a meeting of nearly 200 graveyard and crematorium workers with BBMP officials in Bengaluru on Friday. Authorities assured workers their concerns would be addressed at the earliest.

In a bid to beat infection with cases surging, many seniors are rushing to take the second dose of the vaccine after just four weeks of the first dose, although the central government, on March 22, had advised all states to increase the interval between doses to 6-8 weeks.

Scarcity of beds and shortage of antiviral drug Remdesivir came into focus when a doctor, an internal medicine specialist at a Bengaluru-based lab, lost her 70-year-old father to Covid on Thursday. He was a kidney transplant recipient.

A report by the Lancet Covid Commission-India Task Force — comprising 22 experts including government representatives — has recommended 16 measures to tackle the second wave, which they say has a greater infection rate. It has said a categorical no to blanket lockdowns.

The indefinite transport strike in the state will enter its 11th day on Saturday. Bang in the midst of a pandemic, the prolonged agitation is causing severe hardships to commuters, who are being forced to rely on private operators for emergency travel. The government and the striking employees have been unable to find common ground to tide over the crisis. While there are complaints galore against private operators of poor frequency and for carrying excess passengers or charging extra, transport department officials are turning a blind eye to violations. Officials fear private operators might not run any buses if action is initiated against them. Many poor patients travelling from other districts to Bengaluru are finding it difficult to visit hospitals due to lack of buses operated by STUs.

Chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Friday tested positive for Covid-19 - the second time within a year - and was admitted to Manipal Hospitals. The hospital said the 78-year-old leader was cheerful and clinically stable. "He has tested positive for Covid at an outside laboratory. A medical board of clinical experts has been set up and he is being evaluated and treated for respiratory symptoms," the hospital said.

With the number of active Covid cases in Karnataka crossing the 1-lakh mark, the state government on Friday announced it was ramping up health infrastructure by adding 8,000 beds in Bengaluru, increasing availability of Remdesivir injections and by ensuring there is no shortfall in supply of oxygen cylinders.