Karnataka makes Covid testing mandatory for all those showing flu symptoms

Karnataka Health Minister directs officials to ramp up testing for those with flu-like symptoms.

Published on: Jan 6, 2024, 09:09:57 IST

By Yamini C S

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Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Friday said he has directed healthcare officials to ramp up testing further and take samples of all those who are exhibiting flu-like symptoms. Rao held a meeting on Friday and announced that a Covid-19 helpline will also be launched on Saturday.

Karnataka health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao. (ANI Photo)

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“It has been suggested to make Covid tests mandatory for all Influenza Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI). The minister held a meeting with senior health officials today at Vikas Soudha in Bangalore and said that a large number of Covid tests is being done in the state,” A statement from the health department said.

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“More than 7,000 tests are being conducted every day. The Covid positivity rate is at 3.82 percent. It has not come down yet in the state. A downward trend in Covid has already started in the state of Kerala. Therefore, it has been suggested to keep a close watch on those who are Covid positive,” The minister said in the statement.

“It is recommended to carry out compulsory covid screening especially if individuals are showing symptoms of ILI. Earlier only one in 20 of these cases were subjected to a covid test,” He added. He further stated that all private and government hospitals have henceforth been instructed to conduct Covid tests for all ILI patients.

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Officials also indicated that Karnataka will start seeing a decreasing trend in Covid cases from next week onwards. “Technical Advisory Committee met yesterday and gave some guidance. I have instructed the authorities to adopt them,” Rao said.

Karnataka saw nearly 300 fresh Covid cases on Friday, along with four deaths.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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