BENGALURU: Karnataka reported 12 new cases of Covid-19, commonly known as the novel coronavirus on Monday. The state’s total now stands at 163, according to the state health department.
“Till date, 163 Covid-19 positive cases have been confirmed. This includes four deaths and 20 discharges,” the health department said.
The spike in the number of cases in Karnataka comes at a time when the state government is considering phase-wise lifting of the 21-day lockdown that ends on 14 April.
Seven out of the 12 who tested positive are from Mysuru, about 125 kms from Bengaluru, adding to fears that the number has been steadily rising in the heritage city.
One of the seven people works at the same pharmaceutical company, where a-35 year old executive had tested positive on 26 March and has since been traced as the source of the deadly infection for many in Mysuru and even in Bengaluru
Mysuru now accounts for 35 positive cases.
A few others who have a travel history to Delhi have also tested positive but it remains unclear if they are linked to the religious congregation organised by Tablighi Jamaat at Delhi’s Nizamuddin.
The state health department has also notified 10 dedicated laboratories supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) specifically for Covid-19 testing.
Though there has been an increase in Covid-19 cases, an additional eight people have recovered and been discharged from hospitals.
According to the health department, 20 of the 163 cases reported in Karnataka have fully recovered and are back home.
Out of 163 cases detected and confirmed in Karnataka so far, nine cases are transit passengers of Kerala who have landed in our airports and being treated in Karnataka, the health department said in its statement.
