Amid the surge in cases in the state, the Karnataka government released an advisory in order to tackle the current COVID situation. A cabinet sub-committee, chaired by Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, was held on December 26 to analyze the preparedness of the state where various decisions were undertaken as a part of COVID-19 precautionary measures. Health Minister Rao also confirmed the number of active cases in the state to be 430, out of which 34 cases are of the new JN.1 sub-variant of Covid-19.
Also Read: How India Plans To Tackle New Covid Variant, JN.1
Government Guidelines
As per the guidelines issued, all COVID-19-positive patients must isolate themselves at home for 7 days and all people who have had contact with them and are symptomatic must be tested as well. To curb the spread of the infection in the most efficient manner, more than five thousand Covid tests are to be done every day. Among other decisions, it was also decided that all government and private employees who are under home isolation are entitled to seven days of leave and all quarantined patients will be visited by medical practitioners and staff from UPHCs and Namma Clinics.
Also Read: Why COVID-19 Cases Start To Rise With Winter Onset: Expert Explains
The usage of masks has been mandated by the government for senior citizens and people with comorbidities. It has also been advised to the parents not to send their children who are showing symptoms like fever, cough, and cold to school till their symptoms subside. The state will also receive 30,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccination from the central government in light of current events.
As per the release that followed the meeting, samples would be sent for Whole Genome Sequencing to the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru & National Institute of Virology, Pune in order to identify the variant and other mutations. Mock drills at the hospitals will be held to analyze preparedness, as per the advisory released by the Health Ministry the previous week. Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has assured the general public that the situation is not alarming and the state is well prepared to tackle any unfortunate crisis. However, it is still advised to practice physical distancing, and the older population is requested to receive a booster shot.
