Karnataka CM directs districts with high COVID-19 prevalence to bring down death rate
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Thursday asked administrations of 10 districts with a high number of COVID-19 cases to work towards bringing down the mortality rate in the state to below one percent.
Amid a spike in cases, Yediyurappa on Thursday chaired a meeting with Deputy Commissioners, Zilla Panchayat CEOs, Police Superintendents and District Health officers of 10 districts in the state that have high positive cases, via video conferencing.
"Officials have shared information regarding the increase in the number of deaths and positive cases in districts.
Efforts are underway to control it as much as possible in the coming week.
We have asked officials to bring down the death rate to below 1 percent. There has been control in 5-6 districts, we have said that it should happen in other districts as well," Yediyurappa said.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said officials are working day and night and they will take all the necessary measures to bring things further under control in the coming week.
"Pointing to the increase in cases in Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a recent meeting has given certain suggestions and guidance regarding bringing it under control. In this context I have held interactions with officials from 10 districts," he added.
According to state COVID-19 war room data, the fatality rate in Karnataka stood at 1.4 percent.
Responding to a question about the reopening of schools, Yediyurappa said no discussion has taken place regarding opening schools in today's meeting, and a decision will be taken keeping the situation in mind and after taking consent from parents.
The CMO later in a statement said the CM has asked the officials to check the pandemic and bring down the death rate by identifying primary and secondary contacts of those infected, conducting target based testings, and giving necessary treatment to them.
Noting that people have to understand that wearing masks, sanitization, and maintaining social distancing is the medicine for this pandemic, he said officials have to make people understand that the imposition of a fine for not wearing a mask is part of creating awareness and the government has no other intentions.
The government had on Wednesday had said the fine amount for not wearing a face mask in public will be reduced to Rs 250 from Rs 1,000 in urban areas and Rs 100 from Rs 500 in rural areas, following public opposition and expert opinions.
The Chief Minister, who reviewed the death audit in the backdrop of rising in mortality rate in Dharwad district, issued directions to despatch a special team there, as he asked the officials to rectify shortcomings if any, and bring down the number of cases and death rate with the cooperation from everyone.
Observing that Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) has increased in the state, he gave instructions to bring it down and increase the number of RT-PCR tests.
To ascertain the deaths of patients within 72 hours of hospitalization, death audits have to be conducted, the release said adding that 50 percent of deaths have happened within 72 hours, so testing to identify infection is crucial.
The Chief Minister has issued directions to ensure control of the virus spread in rural areas and that the clinical protocols should be strictly followed.
Noting that it has been decided to organize Dasara in Mysuru this time in a simple way, he said the cases were on a rise in the district and asked the officials to send a separate report within a week's time.
All necessary protocols have to be followed during Dasara, and it should be encouraged to organize programs virtually.
As of October 7 evening, cumulatively 6.68 lakh COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 9,574 deaths and 5,42,906 discharges, the health department said in its bulletin.
Bengaluru Urban district tops the list of positive cases, with a total of 2.62 lakh infections, followed by Mysuru 39,590 and Ballari 33,515.
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NEET student hangs self in Rajasthan's Sikar
Jaipur (PTI): A student preparing for the NEET examination allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a rented room in Rajasthan's Sikar on Friday, police said.
According to the police, the student allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister's scarf while one sister was attending coaching classes and the other was in the bathroom.
He had appeared in the NEET UG exam 2026, which was cancelled due to paper leak, they said.
Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar said that the deceased, identified as Pradeep Meghwal, was a resident of Kanika ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu's Gudha Gaudji area.
He had been living in a rented room in Sikar's Jaldhari Nagar area with his two sisters while preparing for NEET over the last three years.
His elder sister later found him hanging and informed the landlord and police after bringing him down, officials said.
The SHO said the body was kept at SK Hospital mortuary, and a postmortem had not been conducted.
The student's father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police that Pradeep's NEET examination had gone well and the family was expecting him to score around 650 marks.
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot expressed grief over the incident and linked it to anxiety among students after reports of irregularities and paper leaks in NEET 2026.
Pilot said repeated paper leak incidents and cancellation of examinations were affecting students' mental health and demanded a time-bound investigation and strict action against those responsible.
