COVID-19: Opposition corners Karnataka govt on first death

'Delay in confirmation has exposed friends, family of deceased to coronavirus'

PTI1_18_2020_000107B Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa

India's first COVID-19 death in Karnataka has exposed government lapses in handling of suspected cases. The opposition parties took the ruling BJP to task in the Karnataka assembly on Friday for its failure to quarantine the suspected case though the health authorities had managed to collect throat swab sample for testing. The two-day delay in confirming the case, as the sample was sent from Kalaburagi to faraway Bengaluru for testing, has put many lives at stake as the suspected patient was not isolated and allowed to mingle with his family,  friends and neighbours, alleged the members of the opposition.

During the zero hour in the House, Chittapur MLA Priyank Kharge claimed that the patient who landed at Hyderabad airport on February 29 after visiting Saudi Arabia for a month, was not screened for COVID-19. "The suspected patient who reached Kalaburagi after the pilgrimage has met many people who came to greet him as is the tradition till March 7. But the next day, he complained of chills and one Dr Fayeem prescribed medicine for common cold and fever. But on March 9, he suffered from severe chills. When he got a chest scanning at Sunrise hospital, Dr Arif suspected it could be COVID-19 infection and the DHO was informed. Two health department employees collected the throat swab for testing and the patient was allowed to travel to Hyderabad for treatment instead of trying to convince him to stay back in the isolation ward," charged Kharge.  

The misery of the patient, who also suffered from diabetes, asthma and hypertension did not end there. "The patient left for Hyderabad and visited at least five hospitals in 24 hours as none agreed to treat him. Finally, he got admitted to Care hospital, who too, discharged him stating treatment was not possible. The family was traveling back to Kalaburagi when the state health authorities called them. But the patient died on reaching Humnabad, en route to Kalaburagi. This is sheer apathy," said Kharge adding that even after the death, the body was kept in the mortuary, which was accessible to all.  

"People freely walked into mortuary and clicked photos, some came to see the body.  None of them had masks. Is it not risky given the man had coronavirus symptoms? On March 12, the body was handed over to the family. But no precautions were taken while shifting the body," slammed Kharge.  

The legislators from the region—Kharge, Dattatreya Patil and Rajkumar Patil—demanded the government to set up a testing laboratory in the district to expedite testing and diagnosis. "You have to screen both international and domestic passengers across all airports and isolate the suspected cases. The government is lax. Crack down on pharmacists selling fake medicines and selling masks at exorbitant prices," said Kharge.  

"Why did the government take so long for testing the sample and not take adequate measures to isolate the patient?" asked Dr Ajay Singh, chief whip of the Congress party.

The leader of opposition, Siddaramaiah, rued the fact that the first COVID-19 death in the country had been reported from Karnataka,  even as the state government claimed it was prepared to tackle the crisis. "The suspected case was not handled well. The government must pull up its socks, screen every passenger entering the stage, set up testing labs and isolation wards and create awareness to fight unnecessary panic," said Siddaramaiah, adding that the hospitals refusing treatment to the patient was alarming.  

Health minister B. Sriramulu maintained that the patient who landed in Hyderabad was screened and as he had fever, he got himself admitted to a private hospital in Kalaburagi, where he was being treated in an isolation ward. "But the family decides to move him to Hyderabad. He changes five hospitals after being refused treatment. He was referred to GIMS hospital in Kalaburagi. He died on his way to GIMS and our DHO and health officials rush to the spot. We did not know the cause of the death, as the test result of the samples was still not out. However, the last rites were performed as per the Central guidelines. Around 25 members including seven family members, ambulance driver and his family, and neighbours have been isolated," added Sriramulu.  

The minister informed the house that the state had five confirmed cases of COVID-19. At least 85,000 passengers had been screened at Bengaluru airport and 30,000 in Mangaluru airport and 6,000 at Mangaluru port. "In all,  around 1.20 lakh passengers coming from abroad have been screened. We have collected blood samples from 575 suspected cases, of which 475 have tested negative and the results of the remaining are awaited. The suspected cases are being isolated and contact-tracing at apartments, complexes and offices of suspected cases is helping us isolate people who might have come in contact of confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19. The government has opened testing labs in Shimoga, Mysore, Ballari and Hassan, besides the ones in Bengaluru. More testing labs will be opened for speedy diagnosis. The district hospitals and many private hospitals have reserved 10 beds each to set up isolation wards. The BSF and the Army has set up 100-bedded facility," he added. 

The health minister warned the pharmacists and medical shops against selling the masks and sanitisers at exorbitant prices and threatened to cancel the licences of such shops. Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa who expressed regret over the first death being reported from the state, assured the House that his government was committed to pro-actively tackle the health crisis. He later banned all large getherings in the state for a period of one week.

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