Karnataka reports 8,324 fresh COVID-19 cases and 115 deaths
Bengaluru: Karnataka on Saturday reported 8,324 fresh coronavirus cases taking the tally to 3,27,076 whereas fatalities touched 5,483 with 115 fresh deaths, the health department said.
The total infections comprised 2,35,128 discharges including 8,110 today.
There were 86,446 active cases in the state including 721 in the ICU, the department said in a statement.
The spike in cases was led by Bengaluru urban district, which recorded 2,993 fresh cases and 25 deaths.
The city has cumulatively reported 1,24,442 cases and 1,911 deaths due to the coronavirus. There were 37,315 active cases including 285 in the ICU.
There were cumulatively 85,215 discharges in the city including 2,174 on Saturday.
According to the health bulletin, 468 fresh COVID cases were reported in Ballari, 333 in Shivamogga, 325 in Hassan, 319 in Davangere, 309 in Mysuru, 290 in Dharwad, 276 in Belagavi, 272 in Dakshina Kannada and 238 in Koppal.
Bagalkote, Bengaluru Rural, Gadag, Kalaburagi, Chikkamagaluru, Chikkaballapura, and Udupi were among the districts which also reported fresh COVID-19 cases.
The department said 11 deaths due to coronavirus were reported today in Mysuru, nine each in Dharwad and Haveri, seven in Dakshina Kannada, six in Hassan, five each in Shivamogga and Tumakuru.
Deaths were also reported in Bagalkote, Belagavi, Chikkamagaluru, Davangere, Kalaburagi, Vijayapura, Kolar, Koppal, and Mandya.
While a majority of those who died were above 50 years, there were young people who succumbed to the infection.
There were two people in their teens (14 and 17), who hailed from Mysuru, six in their thirties, and 11 in their 40s.
Most of those who died of coronavirus had Severe Acute Respiratory Illness or Influenza-Like Illness.
The department said as of today, 3,98,584 lakh people were home quarantined whereas, in the past 14 days, 3.72 lakh primary contacts and 3.16 lakh secondary contacts have been traced.
There were as many as 72,684 tests done on Saturday taking the total tests done so far to 27.86 lakh, the department added.
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Saffron shawls not allowed in schools in K'taka, clarifies CM Siddaramaiah
Mysuru (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday clarified that saffron shawls would not be allowed in educational institutions under the state government’s order on religious symbols, while practices already in existence such as hijab, turbans, rudraksha beads and sacred threads (Janeu) would continue to be permitted.
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, the Chief Minister clarified that those religious attire which are in practice will be allowed.
The Karnataka government on Wednesday passed an order allowing students to wear Hijab, sacred thread, Shivadhara, Rudraksha in schools. The order scrapped the BJP government’s 2022 order, banning Hijab in government schools following the Hijab versus saffron shawl controversy.
The opposition flayed the move and termed it "appeasement politics".
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A section of Hindu right wing organisations even threatened to wear saffron shawls in the schools.
Now the Chief Minister has clarified that saffron shawls will not be permitted.
“Saffron shawls are not allowed. Those shawls cannot be worn. Turbans, sacred thread, Shiva dhara, rudraksha, and hijab can also be worn,” Siddaramaiah told reporters.
“See, it is not just the hijab. People can also wear sacred threads, Shivadhara rudraksha beads — everyone can wear things according to their beliefs. This is allowed up to Class 12, whether it is high school, college or primary school. It applies to all.”
Asked whether saffron turbans representing saffron identity would be permitted, the Chief Minister said only practices already in existence would be allowed and no new practices could be introduced.
“When we say turbans, we mean practices that already exist. Nothing new can be introduced. Only those practices and beliefs that already exist till now are allowed,” he said.
Responding to questions on Prime Minister Narendra Modi reducing his convoy to conserve diesel, Siddaramaiah said such measures would only have a temporary effect. “What the Prime Minister has said is not the right step. Instead, it would be better to speak with other countries and bring awareness and consciousness among them,” he said.
Replying to questions on the controversy surrounding the NEET examination, Siddaramaiah criticised the conduct of the exam and said students should not suffer because of lapses in the system. “Look, we conducted CET, and they introduced NEET. If they fail to conduct it properly, what will happen to the students who studied hard and wrote the exam? What about their future?” he asked.
