ACB filed FIR without proper sanction: Yeddyurappa

Bengaluru, Apr 18: With 12 fresh cases of the COVID-19 infection, including one woman, the total number of novel coronavirus cases in Karnataka surged to 371 on Saturday.

The sources said that as many as three new positive cases were reported from Mysuru district, followed by two each from Kalaburagi, Bhagalkote, one each case from Vijayapura, Belagavi, Dharwad, Gadag and Mandya, districts on Saturday.

Mangaluru, May 23: Criticising the Karnataka government's fresh protocol for management of Covid-19 as expensive, a prominent physician in the city has demanded its withdrawal.

According to Dr B Srinivas Kakkilaya, the protocol released by the Health and Family Welfare Department on May 15 enlists unnecessary and unconfirmed tests and treatments. 

The protocol has classified Covid-19 cases into three categories and has provided for hospitalisation of all three categories of patients, from asymptomatic to the most severely ill.

In a letter to the government, Dr Kakkilaya said: "The protocol suggests several investigations to be done right on the day of admission, including blood counts, liver and renal function tests, chest X Ray, ECG, CT scan of the chest, and other special investigations, all of which, if done, will cost Rs 25,000 per patient."

"In the coming days when lakhs of patients are likely to be infected with SARS CoV2, is it necessary and feasible to hospitalise and test all these patients at Rs 25,000 per person," he questioned.

The treatment options suggested in the protocol are also surprising, he pointed out. "The protocol recommends choloroquine, azithromycin, oseltamivir, zinc and vitamin C for all patients, from asymptomatic to the severely ill, and also anti coagulant injections for many patients. All these would cost at least Rs 5,000 per patient. For severe cases of Covid-19, many unproven and experimental treatments have been suggested, which are very expensive and highly questionable," Dr Kakkilaya notes.

Therefore, this protocol, he asserted was not evidence based and likely to do more harm than good. He said these unnecessarily expensive tests and allowing private companies to conduct trials on Covid-19 patients is likely to be misused by vested interests and must be immediately withdrawn, and instead, a protocol that is evidence-based, simple and avoiding unnecessary expenses, must be developed.

Mangaluru, Feb 28: BJP Corporator in Mangaluru's ward number 46 (Cantonment), Divakar, has been elected as the Mayor of the city on Friday. While Janaki aka Vedavathi, Corporator of ward number 9 (Kulai), has been elected as the Deputy Mayor.

Divakar secured 46 votes including that of MLAs D Vedavyasa Kamath and Dr Y Bharath Shetty.

Regional Commissioner V Yashwanth conducted the election at the Council Hall of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC).

Two nominations were filed for the post of Mayor. Congress had fielded Keshav, representing ward 37 (Maroli) for the post of Mayor. Keshav secured 15 votes including that of MLC Ivan D'Souza.

Congress had fielded Zeenath Samshuddin of ward number 44 (Bunder) for the post of Deputy Mayor and secured 17 votes.

Two Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) corporators remained neutral for the post of Mayor while they supported the candidature of Zeenath Samshuddin of Congress for the Deputy Mayor post. Janaki aka Vedavathi of the BJP secured 46 votes.

The BJP had swept the elections to the 60-member council held on November 12 by winning 44 wards, while the Congress won 14 wards. Social Democratic Party of India won two seats.

Election to the post of Mayor and Deputy Mayor was conducted as per the reservation roaster for the 21st term dated September 3, 2018. Accordingly, the Mayor's post was reserved for candidate from BCM ‘A’ category while that of Deputy Mayor for woman general.