Two COVID-19 deaths in Karnataka, toll now 35; 28 positive cases take count to 987
Bengaluru: With two more deaths, COVID-19 related fatalities rose to 35 in Karnataka and 28 new positive cases were confirmed, taking the total number of infections to 987, as the state tested over 7,000 samples on Thursday.
"...the number of samples tested today, is highest so far. We have tested 7,195 samples," Minister S Suresh Kumar, who is the spokesperson for COVID-19 in Karnataka, told reporters.
A total of 1,28,373 samples were tested, out of which 7,195 were tested on Thursday alone. So far 1,26,766 samples have reported negative, 7,097 today,he said.
The state, which recently crossed the milestone of one lakh COVID-19 tests, plans to boost its testing capacity with 60 labs by end of this month and to conduct 10,000 tests per day.
"As of 6:00 PM on May 14, cumulatively 987 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 35 deaths and 460 discharges," the health department said in its bulletin.
Out of 491 active cases, 482 patients are in isolation at designated hospitals and are stable, while nine are in ICU.
Nine patients have been discharged on Thursday.
The two deceased include a 80-year-old woman from Dakshina Kannada who got admitted to a private hospital with complaint of stroke.
As she tested positive for COVID-19, she was shifted to the ICU of a designated hospital in the district on April 26 and died today due to septic shock.
Also, a 60-year-old man from Ananthapur in Andhra Pradesh, admitted to a dedicated hospital in Bengaluru Urban with features of severe pneumonia, among others, died today due to cardiac arrest.
The 28 new cases include seven from Bidar, five each from Mandya and Bengaluru urban, four from Gadag, three from Davangere, two from Kalaburagi, and one each from Belagavi and Bagalkote.
Among the new cases, five are children.
From across the state most number of infections have been reported in Bengaluru urban with 189 cases, followed by Belagavi 114, Mysuru and Davangere 88.
Out of total 460 patients discharged, maximum 97 are from Bengaluru urban, 86 from Mysuru, 46 from Kalaburagi.
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 asks Centre to consider amending law on terminating pregnancy of rape survivors
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Thursday took strong exception to a plea by AIIMS seeking to set aside its order allowing a 15-year-old girl to medically terminate her 30-week pregnancy, and asked the Centre to consider amending the law to permit rape survivors to terminate unwanted pregnancies even beyond 20 weeks.
The top court said when there is pregnancy due to rape, there should not be a time limit.
Law needs to be organic and in sync with evolving time, it stressed.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said this is a case of child rape and the survivor will have a lifelong scar and trauma if termination is not allowed.
The top court said if the mother does not have permanent disability then it should be carried out.
ALSO READ: Chlorine gas leaks at defunct water purification plant in Pune; 24 persons hospitalised
It asked AIIMS to counsel parents of the survivor over the issue and said the decision has to be of the person concerned.
"There are children for adoption. In this country we have lot of sympathies...There are deserted, abandoned children on the streets and even mafias on it. We have to look at them. This is an unwanted pregnancy of a 15-year-old child.
"This is a curative petition. Unwanted pregnancy cannot be thrusted on a person. Imagine she is a child. She should be studying now. But we want to make her a mother. Imagine the pain, the humiliation the child has suffered in this," the bench said.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for AIIMS, mentioned the curative plea, and said the termination of pregnancy is not possible.
"It will be a live baby with severe deformities. Minor mother will have lifelong health issues and cannot reproduce. Minor mother will have lifelong health issues. This child can be given for adoption. It has been 30 weeks now. It is a viable life now," she said.
The top court said the decision on termination has to choice of the survivor and her parents and AIIMS may help them take an informed decision.
On April 24, a bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan had allowed the girl to medically terminate her pregnancy of 30 weeks.
