In marginal dip, Karnataka sees over 40,000 new Covid-19 cases; positivity rate nears 19% | Bengaluru

Daily Covid-19 cases in Karnataka, as well as its capital Bengaluru, declined marginally on Tuesday, with the state logging 40,499 fresh infections, including 24,135 in the city, data shared by state health minister Dr Sudhakar K showed. A day ago, as many as 41,457 people tested positive, of which 25,595 were from the metropolis.

Fresh fatalities were recorded at 21, as against 20 on Tuesday. Bengaluru accounted for five new deaths, while on January 18, seven patients passed away in the city due to the viral illness.

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The data further showed that 23,209 more people were discharged after recovering from the virus, while active cases rose to 267,650 from 250,381. The state capital has total 184,000 active cases, while the corresponding figures a day ago were 178,000. 

Meanwhile, the test positivity rate (TPR) was recorded at 18.80 per cent as the latest daily infections were from 215,312 samples tested for Covid-19. On Tuesday, the TPR was recorded at 22.30 per cent, with a total of 185,872 tests conducted.

Also on Wednesday, the Karnataka government issued revised guidelines pertaining to testing, isolation and quarantine of Covid-19 positive people. “For general population, patients in home isolation shall be released after at least seven days have passed after testing positive and there is no fever for three preceding and successive days; there’s no need for re-testing,” a government circular read.

Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, who has recovered from Covid-19, will chair a meeting on Friday to review the restrictions which are currently in effect across the state.