CM BS Yediyurappa announced that Karnataka will vaccinate people above the age of 18 years and below 45 years free of cost at government hospitals across the state.
BENGALURU: With the sharp surge in Covid infections, the Karnataka cabinet on Monday resolved to vaccinate all those between 18 and 44 years of age free of cost. It also allowed home delivery of liquor for the first time in the state s history.
After the cabinet meeting here, chief minister BS Yediyurappa announced that Karnataka will vaccinate people above the age of 18 years and below 45 years free of cost at government hospitals across the state. The Union government will bear the cost of vaccination of those above 45 years in the state.
(This story originally appeared in on Apr 27, 2021)It was hailed as the emerging global hub for healthcare innovations and projected as the best destination for medical tourism. But the stark reality is that Bengaluru’s healthcare system is currently crumbling in the Covid-19 second wave.
At least 500-600 persons search desperately for ICU beds every day, furnaces in crematoria are on the brink of melting, doctors and data operators are exhausted and people have been reduced to psychological wrecks.
Though the state government on Monday announced a fortnight’s lockdown to stall the total collapse of medical infrastructure, the big question is: How did Bengaluru reach this breaking point?
CM BS Yediyurappa-led BJP government will decide whether it will foot the bill entirely for beneficiaries in phase 3 of the vaccination drive or they will have to pay for it (File photo)
BENGALURU: Even as Bengaluru recorded over 20,000 new cases on Sunday amid widespread speculation of a complete lockdown in the state, the cabinet meeting on Monday is likely to discuss extending the curfew beyond May 4, free vaccination for those in 18-45 age group and financial relief packages.
Having placed an order for 1 crore doses with Serum Institute of India at a cost of Rs 400 crore, chief minister BS Yediyurappa-led BJP government will decide whether it will foot the bill entirely for beneficiaries in phase 3 of the vaccination drive or they will have to pay for it.
Workers load empty oxygen cylinders at a hospital in Bengaluru. Demand has shot up in the past couple of weeks
BENGALURU: A hospital in Bengaluru with over 30 Covid patients averted a major disaster when it refilled its medical oxygen tanks in the nick of time with help from the local MP, BBMP officials and oxygen suppliers.
India’s first anti-ageing facility, GVG Invivo Hospital in JP Nagar, was converted into a Covid hospital overnight last year. After the second wave hit, the hospital repurposed different rooms to accommodate more patients and had extended oxygen lines.
Dr Gunasekar Vuppalapati, CMD, told TOI that they have three oxygen tanks on their premises and generally keep one tank in reserve. However, lately, refills were arriving when their last tank was at 50%.
Karnataka set a grim record with 34,804 cases (File photo)
BENGALURU: Bengaluru on Sunday became the first Indian city after city-state New Delhi to post 20,000 cases in a single day. Karnataka set a grim record with 34,804 cases, further confirming that the Covid infection is spreading at a frightening rate in the second wave in the state.
Delhi has seen multiple days with more than 25,000 cases in April 2021, with 28,395 on April 20 being the highest so far. While Bengaluru Urban district alone is recording such high numbers, Delhi’s figures are for its 11 districts.
The dramatic rise in cases requires a much stronger response from the government to break the chain and greater urgency in beefing up the healthcare infrastructure not just in the capital but also in the districts.