From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Apr 20: Karnataka is yet to face the fourth wave of Covid pandemic, said Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr K Sudhakar in Bengaluru on Wednesday. 

However, the minister said there is scope to let the guard down and continue to adhere to precautions including weaving of face masks and all eligible adults must take the third dose.

Speaking to media representatives, Dr Sudhakar noted that Delhi and some other States have witnessed a sudden spurt in Covid cases in recent weeks. In view of the situation, a meeting of the Health Department will be convened shortly to decide on further precautionary measures.

The State cannot give up the practice of wearing face masks and also take the third or booster dose as a precaution. As many as 29 to 30 lakh people were yet to take the third dose, he said.

Dr Sudhakar said more vigilance is being taken at the airports to check the international arrivals. When the Covid cases record a spike in other States, it is natural to expect similar increase in the State too and therefore it was more necessary to abide by the Covid safety protocols for some more time.

The Minister, who visited the KC General Hospital in the city, said the hospital has not registered any appreciable progress and mentioned that a mother-and-child hospital will be started at the KC General Hospital on the lines of the one at Vani Vilas Hospital in Bengaluru.

He said a 100-bed mother and child hospital will be started at KC General Hospital. He also said super-speciality hospitals with at least 500-bed capacity will be started in all the four directions of the city soon.