Covid-19 in Karnataka: 1,200 deaths in 2021, 62% in under 3 weeks

BENGALURU: Karnataka has reported more deaths in less than three weeks this month than it did in the first three months of the year together, pushing the total deaths in 2021 beyond 1,000.
While 18 days in April saw Covid-19 claim 784 lives, the state had 477 Covid fatalities in January, February and March 2021 cumulatively, reports Chethan Kumar.
Of the 1,261 deaths in 2021, nearly 64% (806) were reported in Bengaluru, which also recorded the highest number of deaths in April (504) since October 2020. The city’s share of April deaths is also 64%.
With deaths more than even the 610 in November 2020, the April toll so far is the fourth-highest — the worst-hit months being July, August, September and October of 2020.
Need to implement strict measures: Minister
With Covid deaths in 2021 increasing, the state appears in a situation as bad as last year despite having had the experience of dealing with the pandemic and a more standard treatment protocol.
The apparent shortages in beds, oxygen and Remdesivir — a key drug used as part of the treatment protocol — is adding to concerns, even as the government maintains things are under control and it is augmenting all supplies.
Virologist Dr V Ravi had earlier warned of increased deaths while terming “armchair” analyses that the second wave was less severe that the first one. Stating that there’s a need to go for a more detailed genomic study to understand what percentage of the infections is caused by mutant virus or new variants, Dr CN Manjunath, member, state Covid-19 task force, said immediate containment efforts are focused on enhancing testing, tracking and treatment.
Experts said these steps will be essential to keep deaths under control. According to the health department, 620 patients across the state, including 124 in Bengaluru, were in ICU as on April 18. Comparatively, there were 266 patients in the ICU as on March 31. On additional containment measures, health minister K Sudhakar said on Sunday: “In the wake of the widespread infections in Bengaluru, there is a need to implement stringent measures. This will be discussed with the chief minister. The Centre has pointed out that the virus has spread to the community in Bengaluru.”
Minister R Ashoka, who is scheduled to chair a meeting with Bengaluru MLAs, MPs and ministers to review the Covid-19 situation, had an informal meeting on Sunday. He reiterated that containment measures will be mindful of the hardships of the economically weaker section, indicating that there may not be a blanket lockdown.