Karnataka Minister rules out possibility of community transmission of COVID-19 in state
Bengaluru: Karnataka Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar on Monday ruled out the possibility of community spread in the state and said an expert committee is undertaking a study on it.
"There is a larger spread in containment zones. We accept that reality, but that cannot be termed as community spread.
We have already formed an expert committee to study it. Once their report comes, I can say something," he said.
Speaking to reporters here, he noted that Maharashtra, which has four times more cases than Karnataka were saying there was no community spread in that state.
The Central government and Indian Council of Medical Research had also said that the country has not reached the community spread stage, the minister said.
As of July 20 evening, cumulatively 67,420 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 1,403 deaths and 23,795 discharges.
Bengaluru Urban district tops the list of positive cases, with a total of 33,229 infections.
Sudhakar, who attended the meeting chaired by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said the CM would hold review meetings with Ministers, MLAs, and officials of all eight zones in the city separately on Wednesday and Thursday.
Amid the spike in COVID-19 cases in Bengaluru, Yediyurappa on July 9 had decided to appoint Ministers as in- charge for each zone in the city, aimed at effectively managing the pandemic.
"Booth level committees have been asked to increase the pace of door-to-door survey for early detection of ILI, SARI and vulnerable persons and get them tested," Sudhakar said.
Stating that the meeting did not discuss the extension of lockdown in Bengaluru, the Minister said this meant it would not be extended, as announced by the Chief Minister already.
With the end of lockdown on Wednesday morning, people can resume their daily activities, but all necessary precautionary measure need to be followed, he said.
"By tomorrow evening, all the details will be shared after discussion with the Chief Minister," he said.
Bengaluru urban and rural areas are currently under "complete lockdown" since 8 pm of July 14 and it will be effective till 5 am on July 22, aimed at controlling the spike in COVID cases.
The Chief Minister on Friday had said the lockdown was not the solution for controlling COVID-19 and made it clear that there was no proposal before the government to extend it.
Sudhakar said the National Health Mission (NHM) Doctors' salary would be hiked to Rs 45,000 per month and the state government will bear the cost, adding that ASHA workers' salary would also be hiked soon from the current Rs 6,000.
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Two held at Bengaluru airport with hydroponic ganja worth Rs 5.79 cr
Bengaluru (PTI): Two people were arrested at the Kempegowda International Airport here for attempting to smuggle hydroponic ganja valued at Rs 5.79 crore, upon their arrival from Bangkok on Wednesday, officials said
They seized 16.54 kg of hydroponic ganja, which was concealed in the checked-in baggage, the Bengaluru Customs said in a post on 'X'.
Both the accused were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, it said.
Meanwhile, the Customs officials at the Bengaluru Airport also disposed of 287.5 kg of Ganja (Hydroponic Weed) and 1.17 kg of Cocaine seized under the NDPS Act, 1985, in accordance with CBIC (Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs) Disposal Manual on March 17, it said in another post.
