US returnee tests positive for virus, cases touch 8 in K'taka
Bengaluru: A 32-year-old man, who returned from the US via London earlier this month, has tested positive for coronavirus making it the eighth case in Karnataka, the health department said on Monday.
He was on home quarantine, and is now admitted to an isolation facility.
"One positive case was confirmed today (Monday).The total number of cases in the state is eight, including one death...He had returned from the US via London on March 8 by the same flight as patient number-4 who tested positive," a statement said.
He was under home quarantine, and is now put in an isolation facility, it said, adding that his two primary contacts were wife and housemaid, and all preventive measures and contact tracing have been initiated, the statement said.
Further details would be shared on Tuesday, it added.
The health department bulletin also said the five other COVID-19 positive patients are in isolation at designated hospital in Bengaluru and all are stable.
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EC organises cultural programmes, taps vlogger, para-cyclist to boost voter turnout in Assam
Guwahati (PTI): Special initiatives ranging from roping in a popular vlogger and a para-cyclist as campaign icons to organising street plays and rangoli competitions have been launched across Assam to encourage maximum voter participation in the assembly polls.
The initiatives are being carried out under the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme as per the directions of the Election Commission, an official statement said.
"With the objective of enhancing voter turnout and spreading awareness about citizens' fundamental democratic rights and responsibilities, a wide range of activities are being organised across the state under the supervision of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO)," it said.
As part of the campaign, authorities are organising street plays, drawing and rangoli competitions, slogan-writing contests, digital poster-making events, wall-writing drives, news presentation competitions and workshops, among other creative awareness programmes.
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Several districts have also introduced unique mascots and enlisted popular local personalities as SVEEP icons to connect with voters more effectively.
Among the mascots introduced are 'Bakhar' in Lakhimpur, 'Ganabandhu' in Sonitpur, 'Jolou' in Jorhat, 'Chameli' in Golaghat, and 'Dwimlu' and 'Sikhiri' in Kokrajhar.
To reach out to younger voters, Jorhat district has enlisted popular Northeast vlogger Abhinav Borah, known by his social media handle 'LazyGuy', as a campaign face. In Lakhimpur, actor Rajiv Duwari has been designated as an SVEEP icon.
Rakesh Banik, regarded as the first international para-cyclist from the Northeast, will also promote voter awareness through various outreach programmes across districts, the statement said.
Expressing optimism about a higher turnout, CEO Anurag Goel appealed to all voters in the state to exercise their democratic right.
Polling for the 126-member assembly will be held on April 9, while the votes will be counted on May 4.
