Covid-19 infections in Karnataka’s urban districts have exceeded the state capital, with new cases touching 52 percent on May 6. The infections further saw an upsurge to 56 percent on Friday.
Karnataka’s capital accounted for 70 percent of the state’s Covid-19 cases in mid-April, TOI reported.
Apart from Bengaluru, ten other districts in the state have been witnessing a rise in cases, signaling that the virus is entering.
“Ten districts, including Tumakuru, Kalaburagi, and Mysuru, are showing a huge surge, and they don’t have the required infrastructure to handle the cases,” members of the state’s technical advisory committee (TAC) were quoted saying.
Inter-district movement during Ugadi and other village festivals has mainly contributed to the virus spread, they added.
TAC chairperson Dr. MK Sudarshan said people traveling from the state capital to other districts have contributed to the spike in infections in Hassan, Belagavi, and Mysuru districts.
Dr. Sudarshan also said that as there were no restrictions on intrastate movement after Janata Curfew, many moved out of Bengaluru and other districts.
“Any travel leads to the spreading of infection. No part of the country is free from infection. The surge in other districts is caused partly by the local spread of infection and partly by migration from the epicenter,” he said.
The rise of infections in north Karnataka followed by penetration of people from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. At the same time, the surge in south Karnataka began as clusters originated from those who had returned from Kerala, a TAC member said.
Dr. Sudarshan recommended setting up district-wise advisory committees to help the deputy commissioners tackle the Covid situation.
