Covid-19: ‘Bypolls to blame for Karnataka's Belagavi spike’

BELAGAVI: The big surge in Covid-19 cases — government data shows 8,722 people have tested positive in the past five days — in Belagavi district is being attributed to the Lok Sabha bypoll, a porous border, lack of awareness and delayed response from the district administration.

The positivity rate on Tuesday touched a staggering 81.4% and MG Hiremath, deputy commissioner, has now ordered a total lockdown this weekend.
The second wave is sweeping through villages like Sunnal in Ramdurg taluk. In just about a week, over 10 people have died, forcing the panchayat to seal down the entire village. A 31-year-old infected man, who is isolating at his farmhouse, believes a combination of factors has pushed Sunnal into the present situation. Villagers actively participated in the bypoll, held a local fair and over 150 taxi drivers were making trips to Maharashtra until last week. Lack of awareness is also a big issue.
“The panchayat claims the death toll is only one, but we know that it is 10,” the man said. The scenario in many other villages and urban pockets is the same.
Ashok Chandaragi, social and political activist, said people from Maharashtra were freely travelling to villages in Belagavi for weddings and other ceremonies until last week.
“Weddings were organised late in the night and people were freely commuting across the border,” Chandaragi said. “There are more than 20 points where people can enter Belagavi. Due to lack of awareness people, especially in the rural areas, people with symptoms are mingling with others.”
Chandaragi slammed political parties, saying their mega rallies and behaviour of top functionaries had led people to drop their guard. He said the perception was that the state had successfully defeated the virus. “At political events, no one wore masks or maintained social distancing. This has led to the surge,” he said.
Krishna Giriyannavar, a civic activist, called for the border to be sealed. “Namesake restrictions at the border have inflicted deep wounds,” he said. “Political parties too are complicit for their callous campaigns.”
The district administration has woken up late to the threat but is now putting things in order. Hiremath said the number of Covid Care Centres will be increased from 24 to 100. Hostels, community halls and schools will be converted into centres where infected people can be isolated, since home isolation is a luxury which most people do not have, he said.