Karnataka Covid lockdown news live: 700 people are testing positive every hour in Bengaluru

Active Covid-19 cases in country recorded at 26,82,751: Union health ministry

Single day rise of 3,49,691 Covid-19 infections, 2,767 fatalities push India's tally of cases to 1,69,60,172, death toll to 1,92,311: Health ministry

Shivvamogga: A large number of people seen on streets as food and grocery shops are allowed to remain open from 6am to 10am during state-wide weekend curfew which will be in force till 6am on April 26

700 people are testing Covid-19 positive every hour in Bengaluru

Sources say a total stock of 25,000 doses being sent by the state manufacturing unit near Jigani was seized four days ago. Later, the unit was locked and a mahajar was done by officials of the drug controller department. “The drug we need most is lying unused."

Members of Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (PHANA) said that they are forced to write prescriptions as patient’s families question them for not giving Remdesivir. “The drugs controller department says there is no stock. The nodal officers say it’s not a proven drug. We raised an intent for 57 patients and we could give it only for 11,” said Dr R Ravindra, medical director, Suguna Hospital.

Several patients’ relatives, who called the helpline set up for oxygen and Remdesivir (8951755722), said that their calls were not answered. “It’s not useful — we tried more than 20 times on Saturday, but nobody took the calls. Why set up a helpline if no one helps?” said a patient’s relative, who forwarded the prescription in many social media groups and sought help.

Private hospitals seeking Remdesivir from the state war room set up for this purpose claimed they get only 30-50 doses for every 100 doses they ask for. Hospitalised patients’ families are being given Remdesivir prescriptions even though it’s unavailable in the open market.

CM BS Yediyurappa said on Saturday that the Centre has increased the state’s daily allocation of oxygen from 300MT to 800MT and Remdesivir from 50,000 vials to 1.22 lakh vials till April 30. Chief secretary P Ravi Kumar maintained there was no shortage of oxygen and the problem pertained to distribution.

With this, the total number of active cases touched 2.34 lakh, at a positivity rate of 15.52%. Nearly 70% of this active tally, over 1.6 lakh cases, is in Bengaluru alone. And the city’s active caseload is nearly 26% of its total infections, against 18% statewide.

Bengaluru district, which now has the highest active burden in the country, reported an all-time singleday high of 17,342 Covid-19 cases and 149 deaths on Saturday, making up nearly 60% of the daily infections and over 70% of deaths in the state. Karnataka too reported record numbers — 29,438 cases and 208 deaths — in a single day.