With seven new positive COVID-19 cases, patients' toll in Karnataka rises to 62
Bengaluru: In the third COVID-19 fatality in Karnataka, a 60-year-old man died at a hospital in Tumakuru on Friday hours after his test result came positive for coronavirus infection along with that of six others as the total cases in the state rose to 62.
The man had no travel history to any foreign country, but had visited Delhi and returned by train earlier this month, following which he developed certain symptoms, officials said.
In a tweet, state Health and Family Welfare Minister B Sriramulu confirmed the death was due to coronavirus infection.
"He (60-year-old) had a history of travel to Delhi by train on March 13....His 24 high-risk primary contacts have been traced of which 13 are isolated in designated hospital.
8 tested negative and 3 are healthcare professionals who are house quarantined," a health department mid-day update said. Earlier, district officials had put the age of the man as 65.
The bulletin said with the seven new cases, including a 10-month old child from Dakshina Kannada, as many as 62 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state as of Friday. This included three deaths and five discharges.
Tumakuru District Deputy Commissioner K Rakesh Kumar said the first confirmation of the 60-year old man testing positive was received late on Thursday night.
"Today morning we got official report also... and around 10:45 am the patient died," he said. This is the third coronavirus fatality in the state.
Earlier this month, a 76-year old Kalaburagi man died due to co-morbidity and was also tested positive for COVID- 19, becoming the country's first coronavirus death.
A 70-year old woman from Chikkaballapura district who returned from Mecca in Saudi Arabia died on March 24 at a designated hospital here, becoming the second fatality.
Regarding the 10-month old male child, the department said, the infant had no history of travel to COVID-19 affected countries and is isolated at designated hospital in the district.
As per the preliminary investigation the child was taken to Kerala by family members, it said, adding that the detailed investigation is under process and six primary contacts have been traced and are under house quarantine.
Among other newly confirmed positive cases include a 20 -year-old man and 25-year old woman from the city with a travel history to Colombo and London respectively.
Others are two women, in their 30s, from the city, who are contacts of a patient (house maid) already tested positive and undergoing treatment and a 22 year-old man, resident of Uttara Kannada with a history of travel to Dubai, the bulletin said.
Meanwhile, in a preparatory measure to tackle any exigency in the backdrop of spread of coronavirus, the state government has asked district administrations to use as quarantine centres the residential schools and hostels that come the under Social Welfare department.
"Wherever necessary, these residential schools and hostels can be converted as quarantine facility without any extra cost by the district administrations," Deputy Chief Minister Govind Karjol, also in-charge of the departmet, said in a statement.
Noted cardiac surgeon Devi Prasad Shetty on Friday said India should take a cue from the UK and Italy and allow final year medical students to skip exam and bring them into the hospital system immediately to fight the war against COVID-19,
"COVID-19 battle can be only won by young doctors and young nurses. Its like a war, Shetty told PTI.
The Chairman and Founder of the city-based Narayana Health said there should be some reforms in medical education like the UK and Italy.
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.
2nd WT20I: Shafali, spin trio do star turns in India''s seven-wicket win
Visakhapatnam (PTI): Shafali Verma hit a blistering unbeaten 69 as India made short work of a paltry target to outclass Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the second Women’s T20 International here on Tuesday.
India now lead the five-match series 2-0 after another one-sided victory, having restricted Sri Lanka to a modest 128 for 9 through a collective display of disciplined bowling from the spin trio of seasoned Sneh Rana, ably complemented by young spinners Vaishnavi Sharma and Shree Charani.
During the chase, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana (14) fell cheaply but Shafali, enjoying new found confidence after a stellar show in the World Cup final, sent the bowlers on a leather-hunt during her 34-ball knock, winning it for her team in just 11.5 overs.
The hosts have now completed back-to-back successful chases within 15 overs which speaks volumes about the unit's sky-high confidence.
Shafali's innings had 11 punchy boundaries apart from a maximum.
The floodgates opened when left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera bowled a few flighted deliveries and Shafali would step out everytime to hit her over extra cover. Her footwork against slow bowlers was immaculate whether stepping out to loft the ball or rocking back to punch or pull.
Seeing her confidence, the newly appointed Delhi Capitals skipper Jemimah Rodrigues (26 off 15 balls) also attacked as the duo added 58 runs in just 4.3 overs.
By the time Rodrigues was out trying to hit one six too many, the match as a contest was over. Shafali completed her half-century off just 27 balls and completed the formalities in a jiffy.
Earlier, off-spinner Rana, who got a look-in after Deepti Sharma was ruled out due to fever, showed her utility keeping the Lankan batters under tight leash with figures of 1 for 11 in 4 overs, including a maiden which certainly is a rarity in T20 cricket.
Charani, who made an impression during India's ODI World Cup triumph, took 2 for 23 in her quota of overs, while Vaishnavi after an impressive debut in the opening encounter, finished with 2 for 32, not letting the Islanders get easy runs in her second spell.
The last six wickets fell for just 24 runs, but what stood out during India’s bowling effort was their superb ground fielding. After a patchy show in the previous game, the improved sharpness in the field resulted in three run-outs.
Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu (31 off 24 balls) looked in good nick as she deposited length deliveries from seamers Kranti Gaud and Arundhati Reddy over the ropes but it was Rana, who kept her quiet by repeatedly pitching on good length.
Unable to manoeuvre the strike and with the big hits suddenly drying up, Athapaththu chanced her arm at another delivery in which Rana had shortened the length slightly.
Not having transferred the weight into the lofted shot, Athapaththu's hoick was pouched cleanly by Amanjot Kaur at long-off.
This was after Athapaththu's opening partner Vishmi Gunaratne (1) had offered a simple return catch to Gaud.
Hasini Perera (22 off 28 balls) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (33 off 32 balls) did stitch a stand of 44 but they could never set the tempo against the Indian spin troika.
Once Hasini offered a tame return catch off a Charani full-toss, Sri Lankans never recovered and lost wickets in a heap towards the end.
