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Bengaluru, Aug 6: With rains in several parts of Karnataka amid Covid-19 pandemic, state Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar on Thursday asked the people to maintain caution and contact the Health department helpline in case of any symptoms.

"There is heavy rain in several districts of the state's coastal, Malnad and north interior regions. People have to observe utmost caution during these rains amid corona infections. In case of any symptoms like fever, cough and cold immediately call the health department helpline 104," Sudhakar tweeted.

As of August 5 evening, cumulatively 1,51,449 Covid-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 2,804 deaths and 74,679 discharges.

Among the districts where the new cases were reported, Bengaluru urban tops the list accounting for 64,881 cases.

Regarding Bengaluru, Sudhakar said, there are 4,276 beds across 11 Covid care centres in Bengaluru.

"As of today morning, 936 of them i.e., 27.79 percent are vacant. Out of the 3,346 patients, 306 patients are due for discharge today," he said in another tweet.

Aimed at availing beds at Covid-19 hospitals for symptomatic patients and those in need, the government had decided to shift all asymptomatic patients to Covid care centres.

Bengaluru Jul 29: There will be a centralised system in place in Karnataka to classify asymptomatic, symptomatic and mild symptomatic persons and recommend treatment based on the severity of the cases, said Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar on Tuesday here.

"Various existing apps related to COVID-19 will be brought under one platform to get real-time information which will assist in strategising allocation of hospitals/beds to the needy. This will probably remove the delay in bed allocation and treatment which is being faced now. The patients will get all information in one phone call," Dr Sudhakar said.

Sudhakar spoke with a team of experts from the government and Infosys.

Referring to a company by name Step 1, which is providing such services in Delhi and Madhya Pradesh, the Minister said that a similar system will be implemented in the state as well.

"This company is having a team of doctors and nurses which is guiding the people whether they need hospital treatment or home isolation after they are tested positive for COVID-19. More than 70 per cent of the positive cases are being asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic and are advised to go for home isolation," the minister said.

"The load on the hospitals is reduced and severe cases can be administered proper treatment. Infosys co-ordinates with the government to provide technical support for this system," Dr Sudhakar added.

Earlier during the day, the minister held a video conference with the heads of private medical colleges to review COVID preparedness.
The government has already passed guidelines to allocate 50 per cent of hospital beds for COVID patients.