Surge in COVID-19 cases in Bengaluru unexpected: Minister K Sudhakar
Bengaluru: Karnataka Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar on Wednesday said the surge in the number of COVID-19 cases that the city is witnessing now was expected by July end, but there is no need for worry as the government is prepared to handle the situation.
"In Bengaluru we were aware that there would be a surge in the number of infections when we relaxed the lockdown, but the information that came to us did not show that it will be to this extent," Sudhakar said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "These numbers were expected by July- end, but it has happened a bit earlier. There is no need to worry, we are making all the necessary arrangements and there is no need for anyone to worry."
As of July 7 evening, cumulatively 26,815 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 416 deaths and 11,098 discharges, and out of this 11,361 infections are from Bengaluru urban.
Nearly 800 out of 1,498 fresh cases reported in the state on Tuesday were from Bengaluru urban alone.
Sudhakar was speaking to reporters after attending a meeting chaired by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa regarding the management of COVID Care Centres. "We have informed the Chief Minister about beds available at the COVID Care Centres and measures taken in that regard, also about the over 10,000-bed facility coming up at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre.
The CM is likely to visit there on Thursday," he said. Not only providing basic infrastructure, but how to manage it, food facilities, cleanliness, availability of Doctors and paramedics at COVID Care centres, all those things have been discussed.
Noting that COVID Care centres with over 2000 bed facilities are already functional, Sudhakar said, every day 200-300 patients are getting admitted and as many patients who were there about 10 days ago are getting discharged and going home every day after recovery.
He said asymptomatic patients don't need ambulances to be shifted to COVID Care Centres, hence alternative vehicle arrangements are being made for them.
Observing that all information regarding beds and ambulances will be made available on the dashboard at the war room, the Minister said, once someone tests positive they will get a call from the war room asking to be ready and the vehicle will come and either shift them to a hospital or COVID Care Centre, depending on the case situation.
The Chief Minister has asked us to make all the necessary arrangements scientifically, not giving room for any chaos or mess and see to it that people don't suffer, he said. Sudhakar said doctors and medical staff will be required at these COVID Care Centres, and at the 10,000-bed facility coming up at BIEC we will need about 1000 doctors working in shifts, so a meeting has been called to discuss about it.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
===================
The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
