16 new COVID-19 positive cases reported in Karnataka

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Bengaluru, April 5, 2020: Sixteen coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Karnataka, taking the total number of the affected in the state to 144, the Health department said in Bengaluru on Saturday. A 75-year old man, who is a resident of Bagalkote, who was confirmed positive on Friday and was being treated at a designated hospital in the district, expired last night.

"Till this evening, 144 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes four deaths and 11 discharges," the health department said in a bulletin.

Out of the 129 active cases, 126 patients (including 1 pregnant woman) are in isolation at designated hospitals and are stable and three in Intensive Care Units (one on oxygen and two on Ventilators), it said.

Among the total of 144 cases detected and confirmed so far, eight are transit passengers of Kerala who landed in airports in Karnataka and are being treated in the state, it said.

This apart, a 60-year-old man hailing from Cochin in Kerala (Patient 133-K), who had travelled to Germany and returned to Bengaluru, also tested positive. In Mysuru, of the seven who tested positive, five are the members of Tablighi Jamaat but did not attend the congregation at Nizamuddin in March.

Mysuru Deputy Commissioner Abhiram G Sankar said they are residents of Delhi in the age group of 19 to 54 years, and were intercepted at the Mysuru district border on March 30. All are admitted in KR Hospital, Mysuru. According to the DC, they arrived in Mysuru in January-end but left for Mandya on March 13. “They were returning to Mysuru from Mandya on March 30, but were intercepted at the district border as they were outsiders. With their travel history, we decided to keep them under quarantine and send their swabs for testing. Out of the 10 who were tested, five have tested positive,” he said.

Be cautious in coming to conclusions’

“If the air isn’t flowing, microdroplets won’t move. And since they can’t move on their own, they stay in place for some time,” Yamakawa explained. “What is important is to create two openings. Do this at least once an hour,” says Tateda. However, studies done so far are all contradictory of each other. Whilst LAN showed viral RNA around hospital locations, there was no proof of infectivity from these particles.

Singapore studies did not favour airborne particles. WHO till date maintains droplet transmission over airborne transmission. “Since this is a new disease, emerging evidence will be dynamic and we need to be cautious in coming to conclusions. Any aerolisation procedure on a COVID- 19 patient needs full personal protective equipment. Wearing mask in public may reduce your chances of transmission to others.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been under pressure from the USA to advise people to wear masks in public. This is a departure from what was being advocated till date,” said Dr Satyanarayana Mysore, HOD and Consultant - Respiratory Medicine and Sleep Medicine, Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road.