Bengaluru: With nine new COVID-19 cases reported on Sunday, Karnataka’s total Covid cases have nearly marked a century. While there were no deaths, the state in the last 24 hours reported a positivity rate of 8.65%.
Currently, of the total 47 active cases statewide, 46 are isolating at home and one is admitted to a private hospital. In the last 24 hours, 104 tests were done, including RT-PCR and rapid antigen tests.
To keep a closer watch on the virus, the State Health Department said it will increase daily RT-PCR testing to 150-200 across Karnataka, following recommendations from the Covid Technical Advisory Committee to step up COVID-19 surveillance.
From Sunday, Karnataka also began testing for Severe Acute Respiratory Infection(SARI) cases. Moreover, individuals in high-risk groups, such as the elderly, children, and pregnant women, with symptoms of Influenza-like Illness (ILI) will also be tested at both government and private hospitals.
Amid rising numbers, health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has instructed officials to ramp up testing, especially for those with respiratory ailments and heart-related conditions, urging that COVID tests be made mandatory in such cases. The government remains alert as it seeks to prevent a wider spread of the infection.