Another Bengaluru techie tests positive for coronavirus

Karnataka on Monday saw its eight positive Covid-19 case, a techie who returned in the same flight as the fourth positive case, an official said on Monday.

"One male patient aged 32 years from Bengaluru has tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday. He has returned from US via London on March 8. Same flight as patient number four," state Health Department's Information, Education and Communication (IEC) special officer Suresh Shastri told IANS.

Shastri said the eighth case was on home quarantine but now admitted in an isolation facility while the health department has identified two primary contacts - his wife and their house maid.

The eighth and fourth case, Mindtree employees, returned to Bengaluru in the same flight on March 8 from London's Heathrow airport at 4.30 a.m.

All the preventive measures and contact tracing have been initiated pertaining to the eighth case.

On Monday, Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa took a slew of measures to contain the virus and held a video conference with all the Deputy Commissioners.

Following the high level meeting attending by senior officials and ministers, the Karnataka government has decided not to allow tourists to Mandya, Ballari, Mysuru, Vijayapura, Koppal and Kodagu districts and heighten vigilance.

Daily district level task force meetings will be conducted to take stock of the situation and cooperation from private medical colleges has been sought where government ones are absent.

The state government has instructed to set up help desks at bus stops and railways stations and check posts on the state border.

All jathras at temples have been prohibited and screenings have also begun at railway stations and bus stops.

According to Central government guidelines, additional laboratories will be set up at Mangaluru and Kalaburgi districts.

Super markets have been allowed to open doors to facilitate essential commodities purchase. IANS