Karnataka adds 1,336 new COVID-19 cases; 16 deaths push toll
Bengaluru: Karnataka reported 1,336 new COVID-19 cases and 16 related fatalities, taking the total number of infections to 8,64,140 and the death toll to 11,557, the Health Department said on Tuesday.
The day also saw 2,100 patients getting discharged after recovery.
Of the 1,336 fresh cases reported on Tuesday, 729 were from Bengaluru Urban alone.
As of November 17 evening, cumulatively 8,64,140 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 11,557 deaths and 8,27,241 discharges, the Health Department said in its bulletin.
It said, out of 25,323 active cases, 24,630 patients are in isolation at designated hospitals and are stable, while 693 are in ICU.
As many as nine of the 16 deaths reported on Tuesday are from Bengaluru Urban, followed by Dakshina Kannada (2), Ballari, Dharwad, Raichur, Tumakuru, and Uttara Kannada (1).
Most of the dead were either with a history of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) or Influenza-like illness (ILI).
Among the districts where the new cases were reported, Bengaluru Urban accounted for 729, followed by Tumakuru (89), Mysuru (52), Bengaluru Rural (40), Mandya (38), Hassan and Dakshina Kannada (30), Chikkamagaluru (29), Davangere and Bagalkote (24) and Chikkaballapura (21) among others.
Bengaluru Urban district tops the list of positive cases, with a total of 3,58,606 infections, followed by Mysuru (49,600) and Ballari (37,938).
Among discharges too, Bengaluru Urban tops the list with 3,36,880 followed by Mysuru (47,884) and Ballari (37,055).
A total of over 96,44,009 samples have been tested so far, out of which 75,384 were tested on Tuesday alone, and 13,392 among them were rapid antigen tests.
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CPI(M) rebel Kunhikrishnan hopes for 5,000-vote win in Payyanur
Kannur (Kerala) (PTI): CPI(M) rebel candidate V Kunhikrishnan, who contested as a UDF-backed Independent from Payyanur here, on Saturday said he was hoping to win the Assembly election by a margin of 5,000 votes.
Kunhikrishnan was expelled from the CPI(M) earlier this year after raising allegations of corruption in the party’s martyrs’ fund against sitting MLA T I Madhusoodanan.
Speaking to a TV channel, Kunhikrishnan said he had announced his candidature as a mark of protest and not with expectations of victory.
However, he said the situation had changed drastically, with a strong undercurrent within CPI(M) votes favouring him.
"The undercurrent in CPI(M) votes cannot be measured. Now people are giving a response indicating victory with a margin of at least 5,000 votes," he said.
Payyanur is considered a CPI(M) stronghold, and a defeat for Madhusoodanan there would be a major setback for the party.
On political violence in Payyanur, Kunhikrishnan said he had been facing it since filing his nomination.
"The people leading this violence should think about how long they can continue it. It is the police which has to take the initiative to stop this violence as part of maintaining law and order. But the police are not intervening at the required level," he said.
Regarding his political future, Kunhikrishnan said efforts were underway to strengthen Left groups, and discussions were being held across Kerala in that regard.
"After discussing with others, a decision will be taken," he said.
Kunhikrishnan is among six former CPI(M) leaders who either exited the party or were suspended before contesting for the UDF in the April 9 Assembly elections.
Elections to the 140-seat Kerala Assembly were held on April 9, and the counting of votes will be held on May 4.
