Here's how a Mangaluru's private hospital is causing havoc in Bhatkal;12 tests positive for COVID-19
Over 150 more samples collected, sent for testing
Bhatkal: Uttara Kannada District Administration on Friday morning received a blow when twelve people from Bhatkal tested positive for Corona Virus. Immediately swinging into action, the administration sealed down parts of the town where the first case of reportedly the second wave of COVID-19 in the town were found.
On May 5, an 18 year old girl tested positive for the deadly virus and all the twelve people who tested positive for the virus on Friday are said to be the primary and direct contact of the patient.
How it all started?
The 18-year old girl had reportedly visited one of the private hospitals in Mangaluru, First Neuro Hospital where a staffer had tested positive for the virus. The girl along with her sister and brother-in-law and visited the hospital in April.
Nearly a week after returning from the hospital the girl showed symptoms of the virus and her throat swabs were subsequently sent for testing. On May 5, the reports of her samples returned as positive, forcing the Taluk and District administration in war-footing her primary and secondary contacts.
The administration without much delay tracked 47 people who were in direct contact with the girl and sent their swab for testing, of which 12 returned as positive on Friday morning, which resulted in creating a environment of panic and distress in the town. All the 12 patients have been shifted to Karwar Medical College Hospital.
On the second day, the administration continued tracking the secondary contacts of the patient including Auto-driver in which she had travelled. The swab samples of all the family members of auto-driver were sent for testing.
The administration however refused to confirm the number of samples collected adding that as per protocol the people were being tracked and their samples have been sent for testing, but highly placed sources of Vartha Bharati, working closely on the development informed that over 150 swab samples have been collected by the administration, results of which are awaited.
Uttara Kannada Deputy Commissioner confirmed that the area of residence of the patient was sealed down completely and a five kilometer containment zone and buffer zone was flagged to cap the spread of the deadly virus.
The DC also confirmed that the patient had transmitted the virus at the First Neuro Hospital in Mangaluru and has urged people to inform the administration if they had visited the hospital in recent past.
People who arrived from Bengaluru on busses to Bhatkal were also stopped in Murdeshwar earlier this week and have been sent to quarantine centres in Murdeshwar. They’ve not been allowed to enter Bhatkal.
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Minister Patil chairs industry meetings to chart growth for key sectors in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Tuesday chaired meetings with industry representatives from the aerospace and defence, machine tools, auto/EV, and green energy sectors to discuss sector growth and government support measures.
The meetings were attended by leading industrialists and their representatives, with some participating virtually.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister for Large and Medium Industries said Karnataka is at the forefront of the country’s aerospace and defence sectors.
He noted that Suzuki and Toyota plan to launch aerial taxi services in Japan by 2028, with Bengaluru-based Sasmos supplying electrical equipment for the project.
Industrialists suggested introducing similar “fly-taxi” services in Karnataka through an appropriate policy, which Patil said would be examined seriously.
The minister highlighted the need to establish testing centres and Common Facility Centres for the aerospace and defence industries and assured that these facilities would be provided.
Suggestions were also made to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for sector growth.
Karnataka has urged the Central Government to approve Defence Corridor projects in the Bengaluru North–Kolar–Chikkaballapur and Dharawada–Vijayapura–Belagavi regions.
Industrialists also suggested a corridor between Bengaluru and Mysuru, Patil said.
He said Karnataka aims to become a hub for defence electronics manufacturing, with plans to establish a 200-acre Defence Electronics Park and a 100-acre Avionics and Sensor Park.
These projects will be implemented once the Special Investment Region is operational, and land availability will not be an issue.
On the machine tools sector, Patil said the industry has recorded an annual turnover of Rs 36,500 crore and is witnessing steady growth.
Large-scale exhibitions have increased demand, and the state must strengthen its capabilities to develop control systems for heavy machinery. One testing unit is already operational in Bengaluru, with another planned for Tumakuru. Expansion of vocational training institutes in industrial areas is also underway.
In the Auto and EV sector, Vision Group members highlighted the need for a network of dry ports and more EV charging stations across the state.
Patil noted that the Tata Group is manufacturing EV buses in Dharawada for nationwide supply. Plans for mini excavator production and export facilitation were also discussed, along with the establishment of a testing facility for two-wheeler EVs.
For the Green Energy sector, the group emphasised the need for a suitable policy on battery-based energy storage and the establishment of data centres.
Patil assured that the government will seriously consider all suggestions and respond positively.
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