After consistent decline in positivity rate in four districts, Karnataka government has revised and classified lockdown restrictions in these districts to category I and brought Mysuru district under category II.
In an order issued by N Manjunath Prasad, Principal Secretary, Revenue Department and Disaster Management Member Secretary State Executive Committee, on Friday allowed more economic activities in these four districts until July 5.
With Friday’s new order Chamarajanagara, Davangere and Chikkamagaluru districts come under Category I and Mysuru district under category II.
Earlier, Dr K Sudhakar minister for Health and Medical Education said there was no need to panic about the Delta Plus variant of Covid-19 virus.
Speaking to reporters, the minister said, “There are two cases of Delta plus variant, one in Bengaluru and the other in Mysuru. Both are having mild symptoms. The one in Mysuru is completely recovered. There was no severity in both the cases. Primary contacts of these cases have tested negative. Therefore, there is no need to panic about these viruses. Genome sequencing is being done everyday to detect new strains.”
Talking about the surge in cases in Kerala, Dr Sudhakar said, “Positivity rate is more than 10 per cent there. We need to be cautious as we share borders with this State. Same is the case with Maharashtra. We need to conduct more tests in border areas. We have instructed the district administration to conduct more tests in border areas.”
“It is not appropriate to close the borders. We need to be cautious at bus and railway stations.”
The State government is planning to set up six genome sequencing labs. “Labs are planned at Bengaluru, Mysuru, Shivamogga, Hubli, Mangaluru and Vijayapura.” He further said, “There is some difference in treatment protocol for Delta and Delta Plus variants. All these will be discussed with experts in the meeting with the Chief Minister.”
Dr Sudhakr attended handing over of 500 oxygen concentrators and 10,000 concentrator tubes by Sneha Charitable Trust to the Karnataka government. Trust has assured a help worth ₹28 crore for Covid control measures. It has also set up a hospital for care of post covid patients.