Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Aug 2: In the month of July 1.08 lac coronavirus positive cases were reported in the state of Karnataka. If the same trend continues, then the number of infected people might reach seven to eight lac towards the year-end according to the estimate of health department experts.

At the same time, the number of recovering patients are also rising considerably. If people follow precautionary measures, it is possible to counter coronavirus according to the suggestion given by health department officials. In the midst of this, the considerable reduction in the number of coronavirus related deaths in the state has brought some respite.

As coronavirus infection has spread to the community, more than 30,000 people are being subjected to tests every day. So far 1,29,287 people have got infected with coronavirus in the state. Out of this, 53,648 have got discharged after getting cured. There are 73,219 active cases and 2,412 people have died in the state. Most of them were suffering from various other serious diseases not connected to coronavirus.

The first case of COVID-19 was detected in Bengaluru on March 8. At the end of March, 101 people were infected with the coronavirus. This number increased five-folds towards the end of April and reached the mark of 565. At the end of May, the numbers increased six-fold and reached 3,221. At the end of June, 15,242 people were infected. But in the month of July, the infection rate rose to an unprecedented eight times and reached 1.08 lac mark. The total number of infected people has reached 1.24 lac at the end of July.

Though the number of infected people is on the rise in the state, the number of people getting cured is also increasing. The percentage of infected people, which was 6.81% on June 22, reached to 9.18% till July 31. The recovery rate, which was at 35.91% on July 22 reached 41.52% on August 1. The number of deaths has also reduced. The death rate which was 2% on July 22 has gone down to 1.86% on July 31.

Karnataka is in the second spot in the country with regards to the rise in the percentage of infected people. Maharashtra is in the top spot. The number of infected people is rising in the states of Karnataka, Bihar and West Bengal in the 14-day period of July 15 to July 28. At the same time, the percentage of infected people has gone below 10% in the states of Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Kerala. In Gujarat, the percentage of infected people, which was 11 has gone down to 7. The percentage of infected people is showing an upward trend in the states of Maharashtra (21%), Karnataka (18%), Bihar (16%), West Bengal (15%), Andhra Pradesh (14%) and Orissa (11%).

According to a study made by Dr Shashkumar Ganeshan, chief of Computational Data Science section of Indian Institute of Science (IISc), coronavirus infection will go on an upward trend till March 2021. According to Dr Ganeshan, at the end of March 2021, nearly 6.18 crore people will get infected with the coronavirus. Out of this 82 lac people will be active carriers of infection. In the state-wise study, it is assumed that Karnataka will have 32 lac, infected people.

Health experts say that coronavirus will infect mostly elderly, pregnant women, people suffering from respiratory disorders, ailments related to heart, kidney and other serious diseases.

Following points have to be followed for better safety from coronavirus infection:

*Do not go out of house unnecessarily

*Maintain social distance while going out

*Wear mask compulsorily. Wash your hands repeatedly. Use sanitizer

*When symptoms of the disease are seen contact the doctor immediately and get treated

*Consume food that will increase resistant power of the body

Dr C N Manjunath, director of Jayadeva Heart Institute says, "It is estimated that the number of COVID-19 infected people will reach three lac towards the end of August. There is a possibility that the infection will show an upward trend until the end of September and then slow down. Government has to take action to give treatment to infected people. The public has to take self-precautions. Eating food that increases resistance power against diseases and physical exercise should be the routine of everyone."