K’taka: 517 deaths in a day

With Covid-related deaths clocking 517 on Wednesday, the total Covid deaths tounched the 20,000 mark in Karnataka; and with 39,998 new cases, the total positive cases crossed the 20 lakh mark with Bengaluru contributing nearly 10 lakh.

While Bengaluru continued to top with 16,286 new Covid cases on Wednesday and 275 deaths, the virus is fast spreading to the districts with Bengaluru Rural, Mysuru, Tumakuru, Mandya, Dakshina Kannada, Ballari, Hassana and Shivamogga reporting over 1,000 new cases.

Karnataka government has conceded it underestimated the impact of the second wave.

Meanwhile, after beds and oxygen, Karnataka is now suffering from an acute shortage of Covid-19 testing kits.

The Karnataka government plans to procure two crore Covid-19 vaccine doses through a global tender in the wake of acute shortage. “This tender will meet the increased demand of vaccines and facilitate vaccination of the age group of 18-44 years,” Deputy Chief Minister and state Covid task force head Dr CN Ashwath Narayan said.

In another development, the Karnataka CET exams scheduled to be held on 7, 8 and 9 July 2021 have been postponed to 28, 29, 30 August.

Karnataka will vax production centres: govt Karnataka chief secretary P. Ravi Kumar on Wednesday said that the state government was ready to help any pharma company that will come forward to produce the Sputnik V vaccine in the state. Kumar said if anyone comes forward, the state will provide the all required assistance to establish one.