Bengaluru, Jul 7 (IANS): A team of officials from the Union Health Ministry here on Tuesday advised the Karnataka government to save coronavirus victims by providing them the best treatment at the earliest.

"The central team told the state government to give priority to save Covid-19 patients' lives with the best treatment in time," said an official.

The team, comprising Additional Secretary Aarti Ahuja and Emergency Medical Response Centre Director P. Raveendran, said lockdown guidelines should be strictly enforced in containment zones to prevent the virus spread.

It met Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, Health Minister B. Sriramulu, Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar, Chief Secretary T.M. Vijaya Bhaskar and other senior officials to review the pandemic situation in the state in view of the rising cases of infection.

"The central team appreciated the measures taken by the state government to contain the virus since March 9. Tracking contacts and creation of database of co-morbid and vulnerable people were also lauded," the official said.

The state Health Department apprised the team of facilities set up for Covid-19 treatment and of steps to deal with any surge in cases, especially in Bengaluru.

The department is setting up high-flow oxygen systems in the district and taluk hospitals for 15,000 beds by August.

With 1,843 fresh cases, Covid-19 tally in the state rose to 25,317, including 14,385 active ones. With 680 discharged, the number of cured people increased to 10,527, while 401 succumbed to the pandemic, including 30 on Monday.

Of the infected since Sunday, Bengaluru accounted for 981, taking the city's tally to 10,561, including 8,860 active cases.