16 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Karnataka on Thursday, tally rises to 197
Bengaluru: A 80-year old woman from Gadag district became the sixth COVID-19 related fatality in Karnataka, where 16 new positive cases were confirmed, pushing the tally in the state to 197, the Health department said on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Thursday said all his cabinet colleagues are of the unanimous opinion to extend the lockdown for about 15 days after April 14 and a final decision in this regard will be taken after consulting the Prime Minister on Saturday.
The elderly woman who died in Gadag, had a history of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI), officials said.
"The patient got admitted at Gadag hospital on April 4, on 6th her test results came out as positive, investigation is on to find the source of infection to her," Primary and Secondary Education Minister Suresh Kumar told reporters briefing about the bulletin.
He said about 42 contacts of the deceased patient have undergone test and all results were negative, results of eleven more contacts were still awaited.
According to bulletin as of 5 pm on April 9, cumulatively 197 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, it includes sixth deaths and 30 discharges.
Among the 16 positive cases, two from Bengaluru city and one from Dharwad had attended Tablighi-Jamaat congregation at Delhi from March 13-18; while 10 are contacts of patients who have already tested positive- one each from Mandya and Chikkaballapura, two from Mysuru, and three from Bagalkote and Belagavi.
Three others from Bengaluru city are with a history of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI). Out of 16 cases, three from Bagalkote are children- two boys aged 4 and 13 and the girl is 9 years old. Contact tracing has been initiated and is in progress for all the cases, the department said.
Citing progression of cases, Kumar said, it some where shows the containment measures were yielding results to an extent.
Out of 161 active cases, 159 patients (including 1 pregnant woman) are in isolation at designated hospitals and are stable, while 2 are in ICU (one each on oxygen and ventilator).
Out of total 197 cases detected and confirmed in the state so far, 6 cases are transit passengers of Kerala who have landed in airports in Karnataka and were being treated.
From across the state most number of infections have been reported in Bengaluru with 68 cases, followed by Mysuru 37 and Dakshina Kannada (12).
Those discharged include seventeen patients from Bengaluru, four from Dakshina Kannada, three from Davangere, two each from Kalaburagi and Uttara Kannada, and one each from Bengaluru Rural and Kodagu; while among those dead are two from Kalaburagi and one each from Bengaluru, Bagalkote, Gadag and Tumakuru.
Sharing details about Tablighi-Jamaat cases, Kumar said out of total 1,176 samples tested, 976 are negative, and 40 are positive, while results of 160 are still awaited.
The Minister said COVID-19 task force of Karnataka that met on Thursday has decided that all the secondary contacts will be tested for the infection.
He also said, list of COVID-19 hotspots is the state will be out probably by tomorrow.
A committee of health experts tasked with devising an exit strategy for coronavirus lockdown in Karnataka have recommended its continuation in "hotspots" along with some relaxations. Several members of the cabinet had also supported these recommendations.
Meanwhile, stating that all his cabinet colleagues have unanimously opined that the lockdown should be extended for about 15 days, after April 14 to check COVID-19, Yediyurappa after the cabinet meet said, "we will take a final call on whether to relax the lockdown after April 14, following discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow (April 11)."
Ministers and Members of Legislature in Karnataka will take a 30 per cent cut each in their salaries and allowances to fund the fight against coronavirus in the state, for a year.
An ordinance to reduce the salaries of Ministers and Legislators by 30 per cent for one year to meet the exigencies arising out of COVID-19 pandemic was approved by the state cabinet headed by Yediyurappa on Thursday.
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Delhi Capitals'' Ben Duckett pulls out of IPL 2026
London (PTI): Ben Duckett has decided to pull out of his IPL 2026 stint with Delhi Capitals, and the England opener now faces a two-year ban from the league and auction as per the amended rules.
Duckett was roped in by the Capitals for Rs 2 crore in last year's auction, but he now wants to spend time at home and play red-ball cricket, following a forgettable run in the Ashes and being on the sidelines for the recent T20 World Cup.
"It was a very difficult decision, and I want to apologise to everyone at Delhi that I won’t be coming,” Duckett told Telegraph Sport.
“I felt it was going to be a great opportunity when I put myself in the auction, and for a franchise like Delhi to pick me up was amazing. I was buzzing. It’s the best competition in the world with the best players, and would have been an amazing experience," he added.
As per the rules tweaked ahead of IPL 2025, overseas players who pull out of the league after being picked in the auction will face a two-year ban if they do not have a legitimate reason for doing so.
The only exception, as per the IPL Governing Council, is for any injury or a medical condition which needs to be confirmed by the player’s home board.
“I don’t know if I’m potentially saying goodbye to the IPL, having never played in it. With the age I am now (31), it might be tough for me, but I hope one day I’m able to represent Delhi. But I’ve thought a lot about this, and know it’s the right decision for my career,” Duckett said.
The left-handed opener featured in all the five Ashes Tests but endured a poor run, scoring 202 runs in 10 outings at 20.20 without even a fifty.
Duckett said, “I’ve made this decision on my own accord. I’ve spent a lot of time away from home in different places, and it felt like the best thing for me to do to be ready to play for England is to be here right now, at home, refreshing my mind and body.
"We all have different journeys, but my journey into the Test team has come from County cricket. I know how valuable that is for me, scoring runs in the Championship and the confidence that gives me going into the rest of the summer."
Duckett he did not want to rush back to England's Test season, beginning in June.
“I could have gone to the IPL, spent time on the sidelines, then rushed back into the Test summer. I wouldn't have time to process the winter (Ashes), learn from mistakes, and go back to the drawing board with Notts,” added Duckett, who will be working with Nottinghamshire head coach Peter Moores.
On his part, Duckett apologised for the excessive drinking incident in Noosa during a mid-Ashes break.
“I am sorry for that incident, it was not professional and shouldn’t have happened. There is no hiding away from it," he said.
“My expectations were more (runs) than what I managed (in Ashes), but facing Starc with the new ball at 90mph every innings, was extremely tough work. No one is more frustrated with how I went than me,” Duckett said.
