Bengaluru, Mar 14 (IANS): As many 32 people continue to be quarantined in Karnataka hospitals for COVID-19 as the state grapples with six positive cases, an official said on Saturday.
"In Karnataka, 32 people with coronavirus symptoms are being observed in isolation at hospitals," state health department's Information, Education and Communication (IEC) special officer Suresh Shastri told IANS.
Of the 32 cases, seven are admitted in Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases in the city while another two are admitted in other Bengaluru hospitals.
In the district hospitals, four people are being monitored at Hassan, seven in Dakshina Kannada, one each in Ballari and Kodagu, two each in Chikamagalur, Udupi and Bidar and four in Kalaburgi.
"As many as 731 samples of symptomatic persons were collected for testing and 590 samples have returned negative," said an official statement.
Nearly 1,308 people are going through home quarantine across the state while 1,657 people have enrolled for observation.
Across the state, 1.09 lakh passengers have been thermal-screened for the virus till now at the Kempegowda International Airport in the city and the Mangaluru International Airport.
Another 5,439 passengers were also checked for the virus at Karwar and Mangaluru seaports.
Meanwhile, state health and family welfare department has decided to physically send health workers to monitor people who came in contact with COVID-19 cases or have returned from high risk countries.
"Passengers from all other COVID-19 affected countries will be followed through outbound calls through 104 call centre," said an official statement.
In a related development, Karnataka government has decided to deliver raw materials to mid-day meals beneficiaries at the anganwadis itself.
"Anganwadis across the state would be shut for the next one week. In view of this, the state government will home deliver groceries to every beneficiary of the mid-day meal scheme at anganwadis," said an official statement aimed at containing the spread of coronavirus.