Karnataka reports record Covid spike

Karnataka reported a record singleday spike of 39,047 Covid-19 cases on Wednesday with Bengaluru contributing a whopping 22,596 cases on the first full day of the two-week lockdown restrictions imposed across the state. The test positivity rate shot up to 22.7 per cent.

The state recorded 229 fatalities on Wednesday including 137 deaths in Bengaluru Urban district.

Meanwhile, there are reports that state is fudging death toll figures. Between March 1 and April 26, the state government records showed 1,422 Covid-related deaths in Bengaluru. But data collated by the media from 12 Covid-designated crematoria showed that 3,104 cremations were done in the same period. Civic body officials admitted that there is a gap. “However, crematoria are also taking in bodies from other districts and those of ILI/SARI cases. These are not included in database.” Minister tells farmer to die

As misery seems to be mounting, Karnataka’s Minister for Food and

Civil Supplies Umesh Katti told a farmer that it is better to die. The incident happened when the farmer asked the minister about staples being offered to poor by the government. According to clips of the conversation that is viral, the minister said the Centre is also giving 5 kg (wheat or rice). The farmer asked: When are you giving? The minister replied next month. When farmer asked till then, should we starve or die? the minister said, “It is better to die. Actually, that is the reason we have stopped giving. Please don't call me.”

Nearly 4 lakh leave Bengaluru The Karnataka Transport Department has assessed at least four lakh people have left Bengaluru by bus and another two lakh are still waiting in various bus stations to go back to their hometowns.

3000 C-19+ people missing

State Revenue Minister A Ashok on Wednesday claimed that many infected people had switched off their mobiles and about 3,000 of them were 'missing' from Bengaluru, according to the DNA.