Kalaburagi comes to terms with COVID-19 a year after first death in country

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KEY STORY

  • KALABURAGI: It’s been more than a fortnight since no COVID-19 related fatality has been reported in Kalaburagi in north Karnataka bordering with Maharashtra and Telangana, but a year ago this district headquarters town had hit the headlines with the first death due to the coronavirus.
  • A 76-year-old man became the first victim of coronavirus in India, which he had contracted in Saudi Arabia during his pilgrimage to Makkah, on this day last year.
  • The death due to the virus was confirmed two days later on March 12, creating shock and panic.
  • The town was the first to adjust to the new normal in the face of COVID-19 outbreak and embrace measures such as hand hygiene, physical distancing, hand sanitisers, facemasks, and containment zones.
  • As on Tuesday, the district has witnessed a total of 22,208 cases, 21,665 discharges, 213 active cases and 330 deaths.
  • “We can say coronavirus in Kalaburagi is under control though there is some rise in cases. A fortnight ago one death had taken place where an old man had died but since then there is no COVID-related fatality here,” District Health Officer Dr Rajashekhar Mali told PTI.
  • The DHO said this increase could be linked to Maharashtra where the COVID-19 cases are on rise.
  • “However, we don’t have any containment zones because the situation is well under control,” Dr Mali added.
  • According to him, people don’t take COVID-19 as a stigma anymore as the deaths are almost nil barring the one a fortnight ago and infected people are recovering fast.
  • “Our recovery rate is also very good and the number of active cases are quite less,” the DHO added.
  • He added that there was a good response to the vaccination drive though there was a need to spread more awareness and encourage elderly people to come forward to receive the shot.

CONCLUSION

  • Meanwhile, the 76-year-old man’s son reportedly claimed that his family has not yet received his father’s COVID-19 positive report despite running from pillar to post in the last one year.
  • A year after the first death, the coronavirus is well under check all over Karnataka with many districts reporting zero fatality for the past several weeks.
  • However, Bengaluru Urban district has hardly witnessed zero deaths or infections below hundred on a daily basis since the time the infections touched the peak.

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