Evacuation flights from Muscat, Doha to Mangaluru via Bengaluru on May 20, May 22

Bengaluru, May 23: Karnataka reported 216 covid-19 positive cases in last 24 hours, marking the highest single day spike in the state ever since the first case was detected on 8 March. 187 of these 216 patients have recently returned from Maharashtra.

A 32-year old male resident of Bengaluru died on Saturday making it the 42nd fatality in the state.

The spike on Saturday takes the total number of covid-19 positive closer to the 2,000 mark and the number of active cases to 1,307 in the state, according to the daily health bulletin of the health department.

Yadgir in northern Karnataka recorded 72 cases on Saturday while Raichur recorded 40 cases. Cases in the sugarcane growing region of Mandya continued to rise as 28 people tested positive on Saturday that takes the total number of active cases to 211 as against Bengaluru that has 124.

Gadag registered 15 cases while Bengaluru recorded 4 cases.

Most of those who tested positive on Saturday had returned from other states, especially Maharashtra, one of the worst affected regions in the country.

The spike in cases comes even as the B.S.Yediyurappa-led state government is deliberating further easing of lockdown restrictions post 31 May. The state government has already resumed public bus and train services as well to facilitate inter-district movement of people that has added to fears of spreading the virus from cities to villages where healthcare infrastructure is poor and inadequate.

Karnataka will also see domestic flight arrivals from Monday.

In a statement on Saturday, Bengaluru International Airport said that it introduced ‘Parking-to-Boarding contactless’ journey.

“We have introduced innovative contactless procedures to minimise exposure at the Airport. These enhancements demonstrate our continued commitment to keep our passengers safe in this environment," said Hari Marar, managing director and chief executive of the airport said in a statement on Saturday.

Mangaluru, Feb 5: The New Mangalore Port implemented the Centre's Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) by screening the crew of cargo ships and passengers of Cruise Vessel for the highly contagious and deadly disease Coronavirus.

Sources in the port said that screening was being carried out at the harbour since the past few days, as a precautionary measure. All the 1,800 passengers and 786 crew of Cruise Vessel 'Costa Victoria,' which stopped at the port, were screened.

Arrangements were also made for screening foreign nationals arriving at the Mangalore International Airport (MIA). 

Besides screening, passengers were also made aware of the Coronavirus and the precautionary steps to be taken.

Mangaluru / Dammam, July 14: As many as 180 NRIs from Karnataka who were stranded in Saudi Arabia amid Covid 19 crisis today reached their home country by a flight charted by a Jubail based company KMT.

The Indigo flight carrying 174 adult passengers and 6 infants took off from King Fahad Airport, Dammam at 6:30 a.m. and landed at Mangaluru International Airport at 1:30 p.m.

Pregnant women, people with serious ailments and those who lost jobs are among the passengers. KMT has provided free ticket for some of the passengers who were in dire need of support.

KMT is a company which is head quartered in Jubail, Saudi Arabia was formed by natives of Addoor, Dakshin Kannada -  Shoukath, Abdul Razaq, Siddique and Abdul Rahman.

The CEO of KMT, Mr. Abdul Razaq has thanked Dr. Arathi Krishna, former president of KNRI Forum for her support to KMT in chartering flight.

He has also has expressed his gratitude to D.K district administration, director of SACO  company Mr. Althaf Ullal and KMT operation Manager Mr. Sadiq Ahmed and his team for their cooperation.