No cause for worry, but precautions must: K'taka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Covid spike
Bengaluru, May 26 (PTI): Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Monday said there is no cause for concern, as most of the recent Covid-19 cases reported in the state involve only mild infections. However, he asserted that precautions still need to be taken.
He said there is no need to impose any restrictions at the moment, other than basic precautions for high-risk individuals. Any further measures, if necessary, will be taken based on the evolving situation, which is being closely monitored.
"There are 47 active Covid-19 cases in the state, but no one is on a ventilator or oxygen support. All are in home isolation, and no one is in critical condition," Rao said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would chair a meeting later in the evening with officials from the Health and Medical Education departments, along with experts, to review the current situation and discuss future steps.
"RT-PCR kits will be supplied to all district and medical college hospitals starting today. Instructions have been given to collect the kits from the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (KSMSCL) by this evening, so they will reach the facilities by today or tomorrow. Tests should be conducted only when necessary; there is no need for indiscriminate testing," he said, adding that public testing is not being launched at this point.
Observing the current symptoms in cases, Rao said the infections do not appear to be severe.
He added that similar information has been received from other states and the central government, so there is no reason to panic—but that does not mean precautions should be ignored.
"Let’s take precautions, observe the situation for a few more days, and take further action accordingly," he said.
"There are no specific guidelines from the Centre at this point, other than general advice to monitor the situation, ensure preparedness, conduct testing, and assess the Covid load factor."
Rao noted that while there may be a minor variation between earlier variants of Covid-19 and the currently prevalent strain, no serious health issues have been observed so far.
"The severity has not been found yet," he added.
Reiterating that there are no movement restrictions in place, he said elderly people, those with low immunity, women who have recently given birth, and small children should wear masks when going to crowded places.
Regarding schools, he said measures will be decided after observing the situation for three to four days.
"We will consult experts and make a decision based on their reports," he added.
Responding to a question, Rao clarified that there is no link between Covid-19 and rain.
Diseases like dengue and chikungunya are caused by rains, he claimed.
"We have already held review meetings on dengue prevention across the state, in every district. About 50 per cent of dengue cases are reported from Bengaluru," Rao said.
"We have mobilised more than 700 volunteers to help maintain cleanliness and create awareness. Sufficient precautionary measures have been taken, but public cooperation is essential. The situation is being monitored, and if cases rise, further steps will be taken," he added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
SC to hear Mamata's plea against SIR on Wednesday; Bengal CM may attend proceedings
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court will hear on Wednesday a plea filed by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee challenging the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state.
Banerjee may attend the apex court on Wednesday during the crucial hearing on a batch of petitions challenging the SIR of electoral rolls in her state.
According to the apex court website, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi is scheduled to hear the petitions, including those filed by Banerjee, Mostari Banu and TMC MPs Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen.
Sources say the chief minister, who has an LLB degree, may attend court and put forth her submissions. TMC sources too corroborated the claim, saying she is likely to attend the proceedings.
On January 19, the top court passed a slew of directions, observing that the SIR process in West Bengal should be transparent and not cause inconvenience.
It directed the Election Commission (EC) to display the names of those on the "logical discrepancies" list at gram panchayat bhavans and block offices, where documents and objections will also be submitted.
Logical discrepancies in progeny linking with the 2002 voter list include instances of a mismatch in the parent's name and the age difference between a voter and their parent being less than 15 years or more than 50 years.
Noting that 1.25 crore voters in the state figure on the "logical discrepancies" list, the CJI-led bench had directed that the offices for submitting documents and objections be set up within the panchayat bhavans or block offices and asked the West Bengal government to provide adequate manpower to the election authorities.
Banerjee had filed her petition on January 28. She has made the EC and the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer parties in the case.
The chief minister had earlier written to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), urging him to halt the "arbitrary and flawed" SIR in the poll-bound state.
Sharpening her attack on the EC, Banerjee had warned that continuation of the SIR in the present form could trigger "mass disenfranchisement" and "strike at the foundations of democracy".
In a strongly worded letter, dated January 3, to CEC Gyanesh Kumar, she accused the poll panel of presiding over an "unplanned, ill-prepared and ad hoc" process marked by "serious irregularities, procedural violations and administrative lapses".
Earlier, O'Brien had filed an application alleging arbitrariness and procedural irregularities in the SIR of electoral rolls in the state.
The application claimed that since the inception of the SIR process in the state, the EC has issued instructions to officers at the ground level through "informal and extra-statutory channels", such as WhatsApp messages and oral directions conveyed during video conferences, instead of issuing formal written instructions.
"The ECI cannot act arbitrarily, capriciously or dehors law, nor can it substitute legally prescribed and set procedures with ad hoc or informal mechanisms," it said.
O'Brien has filed the application in his pending petition, which has challenged the order and guidelines issued by the poll panel directing SIR in various states, including West Bengal.
The application said it was reported that in the course of SIR in West Bengal, the poll panel has created and deployed a new category described as "logical discrepancies" without any written order or guideline to "issue/decide to issue notices to 1.36 crore electors without any statutory basis".
It has also sought a direction to the poll panel to publish the final roll only after the disposal of all claims, objections and hearings.
