State Monitors Uptick in Covid Cases as Man Dies

The Karnataka government intensified surveillance and testing following the recent death of an elderly man, who tested positive for Covid-19, in Bengaluru, even as health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao clarified that the situation does not currently warrant public restrictions or alarm.

- Arun Dev

BENGALURU: The Karnataka government intensified surveillance and testing following the recent death of an elderly man, who tested positive for Covid-19, in Bengaluru, even as health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao clarified that the situation does not currently warrant public restrictions or alarm.

The deceased, an 84-year-old resident of Whitefield, died on May 17 due to multi-organ failure, according to health department officials. While a Covid-19 test taken earlier returned positive after his death, authorities noted that the man had multiple serious health conditions, including heart disease, tuberculosis, and prolonged immobility following a hip replacement.

"He had several issues. So we have asked for an audit. We cannot say directly that he died because of Covid only," Rao told reporters on Sunday, emphasizing the need for a thorough assessment.

With 38 active Covid-19 cases reported in Karnataka—32 of them from Bengaluru—the health department is deploying RT-PCR testing kits across hospitals and prioritizing screening for high-risk groups such as the elderly and children showing symptoms of SARI or ILI.