K’taka CM admits pandemic spinning out of control in some districts

BENGALURU: Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Thursday admitted that the Covid-19 pandemic was going out of control in ‘some districts’ but said that the administration was taking all necessary steps to ensure that the situation was addressed.

However, he did not specify the districts he was referring to.

In the last fortnight, Bengaluru has seen a nearly eightfold jump in the number of active cases.

On Thursday, Karnataka recorded 2,228 new cases, taking the total to 31,105, which includes 486 deaths and 12,833 discharges after recovery.

This is the biggest singleday spike in the number of cases recorded in the state.

Bengaluru alone saw 1,373 new cases, accounting for 61% of the day’s cases in the state.

A 10,000-bed Covid care centre at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre would be operational within a week, said the government.

JDS leader and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy said, “It is unfortunate that the chief minister has expressed the government’s helplessness in controlling the pandemic. Lives of people are important. Instead of indulging in mere rhetoric, I hope the chief minister takes the advice of experts in combating this virus.”

“There have been allegations of corruption in procurement of goods and services to fight the pandemic,” Kumaraswamy said.

“Please involve the leaders of Opposition parties in the decision-making process to ensure that there is transparency in the procurement process as all of us are with the government in these challenging times,” Kumaraswamy further added.

THE STATE RECORDED 2,228 NEW CASES, TAKING THE TALLY TO 31,105. BENGALURU ALONE SAW 1,373 NEW ONES, ACCOUNTING FOR 61% OF THE DAY’S CASES IN THE STATE