Amid surge, around 3,000 COVID-19 patients go ‘lacking’ in Bengaluru
Grappling with unprecedented spike in Covid instances, Karnataka is dealing with one other problem, of monitoring and tracing of anyplace between 2,000 to 3,000 Covid constructive patients who’ve “gone missing”, state Revenue Minister, R. Ashoka revealed on Wednesday.
After his assembly with numerous division heads right here, Ashoka, who can also be Vice Chairman of the Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority, advised reporters that he has already directed the state police to trace and hint these lacking Covid patients.
“At least 2,000 to 3,000 people in Bengaluru have gone of our radar by switching off their phones and left their houses. We don’t know where they have gone,” he admitted.
Bengaluru, has develop into epicentre of the viral unfold ever for the reason that pandemic broke out, typically contributing a minimal 50 per cent to the state’s general tally of Covid patients, fatalities and practically two-third of patients in ICUs.
“With most of these patients switching off their mobile phones, the Health Department is not able to trace them and most of them are also not available at their given addresses, it is construed as they have ‘missing’. Certainly there is a potential threat for these missing patients. These patients can turn out to be super-spreaders,” Ashoka warned.
He added that the state needed to rope in police as they’ve required experience to trace switched off cell phones.
The minister added that the state authorities was giving free medicines to individuals, which may management 90 per cent of instances, however these Covid-19 contaminated individuals have switched off their cell phones.
“Some them reach hospitals at a critical stage and desperately look for Intensive Care Unit beds. This is what is contributing more to the already existing confusion,” he mentioned.
Ashoka appealed to those that have examined constructive for the viral illness to maintain their cell telephones on in order that the official chargeable for contact tracing and follow-ups might attain them.
“I pray to them with folded hands that Covid-19 cases will only increase due to this. It is wrong when you try for ICU beds at the last moment,” the minister mentioned.
The Karnataka authorities had just lately elevated its contact tracing exercise after it was discovered that the officers in Bengaluru and different districts had been tracing solely 4 contacts per contaminated individual, whereas the rules mandate tracing no less than 20 contacts.
Health Minister Okay. Sudhakar mentioned Bengaluru had been the sufferer of this downside ever for the reason that pandemic broke out.
“In my more than one year’s experience of handling this pandemic, it is observed at least 20 per cent of the patients do not respond to our phone calls. Though in most of the cases, police track them down in their own way but there are some of them who migrate to other states and take this disease with theme there too,” he advised reporters at a separate press convention.
