Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], May 24: Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Saturday reassured the public that there is “no alarming situation” amid a slight uptick in COVID-19 cases in the state.
Addressing media concerns, the Minister stated that only 35 COVID cases have been recorded in Karnataka so far this year, with a minor rise in cases over the past 15 days. Following this, the state’s Technical Advisory Committee convened and issued a public advisory.
“There has been a slight increase in COVID cases. In our state, this year we have had 35 cases of COVID. The Technical Advisory Committee met and issued an advisory that those with severe acute respiratory illnesses should get themselves tested,” Rao said.
While emphasizing that there is “nothing to fear,” the Minister advised precautionary measures, particularly for vulnerable groups such as those with low immunity, pregnant women, and children, urging them to avoid crowded places.
“Everything is normal, nothing to be feared about. The Government of India has also said that so far only 257 cases have been detected in the country, and no one has had any severe symptoms of COVID. We should not get worked up,” he added.
As of May 19, India has 257 active COVID-19 cases, with no hospitalisations reported and all cases considered mild. The country maintains a strong surveillance system for respiratory illnesses through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
The Health Minister reiterated the importance of basic caution, especially for individuals with preexisting health conditions, but assured that the situation remains well under control.