BELAGAVI: In a span of a mere week (from April 10 to April 17), Belagavi district, where bypolls to a Lok Sabha and assembly seat were held on Saturday, reported 780 new cases, 497 or 64% of them from Belagavi city alone.
At the beginning of April, fresh cases in the district were less than 30 a day – single digits on some days – and most cases were reported from Athai taluk which saw an influx of people from Maharashtra.
However, the district administration clamped down on travellers and made it mandatory for those coming from across the border to carry negative RT-PCR reports. This brought the rate of infections down considerably.
But then, elections were announced and campaigning picked up steam. Politicians rushed to hold huge rallies where Covid protocols were thrown to the wind. BJP and Congress parties alone conducted more than 30 rallies in the district besides boothlevel meetings and those with party workers.
The BJP brought in star campaigners like chief minister BS Yadiyurappa, who himself tested positive, ministers Jagadish Shettar, CT Ravi and former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, while Congress had former chief minister Siddaramaiah, state party president DK Shivakumar and former home minister MB Patil.
Their rallies drew massive gatherings of people, very few of whom followed protocols such as wearing masks. Social distancing was a joke.
Cases are now surging in the district and as many as nine political functionaries, who took part in these rallies, including Yediyurappa and Congress’ Laxmi Hebbalkar, have tested positive.
Shashikanth Muniyal, Belagavi district health officer, blamed “irresponsible behaviour on the part of the public” for the surge in daily fresh cases. “They know a pandemic is raging, but they don’t abide by norms which is the main reason for the spike,” Muniyal said. “People continue to gather at weddings and functions like village fairs. If we are to break the chain of transmission, people’s cooperation is vital. Everyone should wear masks and avoid large gatherings.”
Dr Giridhara Babu, epidemiologist and member of Covid technical advisory committee, said: “Election campaigns are superspreader events and this is the main reason for the spike in cases. Since its now community spread, people should wear masks and maintain social distancing. If health protocols are not followed, cases will increase massively.”