In view of the new variants of COVID-19 After being found in South Africa, Hong Kong, Israel and Botswana, Karnataka Health and Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar said on Saturday that there is still no sign of the variant in the state.
He said, “We held a meeting on Friday to discuss preventive measures. People coming from these affected countries will undergo RT-PCR test after landing in Bengaluru. If found positive, they will stay in and around the airport for treatment. Home quarantine will be mandatory after their arrival. We have deployed health department officials at the airport to monitor the situation.
Urging citizens to take the second dose of the vaccine, he said, “I request the 45 lakh people who have not yet taken the second dose, get it on a priority basis.”
While Karnataka has vaccinated 90 per cent of its population with the first dose, the country has recorded 80 per cent. The state has also recorded 57 per cent second dose vaccinations, of which 42 per cent in the country.
“A report will be given to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai after the scheduled committee meeting on Monday. We have managed the pandemic efficiently with the Prime Minister’s guidelines Narendra Modi,” said the minister.
Amount released for purchase of medicines
Commenting on the issue of procurement of medicines, the Minister said that a meeting would be scheduled to procure them. 38 crores were given to the district health officials to buy the medicine. There is a delay in buying generic medicines this year due to Kovid. Tenders have not been done and the matter is in court. Funds have been released to buy medicines at the local level and the minister said that medicines will be available in all taluks and district hospitals in the next 3-4 days.
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