Covid deaths cross 36,000-mark in Karnataka

Bengaluru, July 16 Even as the pandemic's second wave has been waning over the days, Covid deaths crossed 36,000-mark in Karnataka, with 48 deaths in the last 24 hours, said the state health bulletin on Thursday.

"With 48 patients, including 10 in Bengaluru, 7 in Dakshina Kannada and 5 in Mysuru succumbing to the infection during the day, the state's death rose to 36,037 and the city's toll to 15,771 since the pandemic broke out in mid-March a year ago," said the bulletin.

The latest data on Covid-19 tracker of the Union Health Ministry also shows that the southern state ranks second in the number of deaths after Maharashtra, which lost a whopping 1,26,390 lives since March 2020.

Meanwhile, 1,977 new cases were registered on Wednesday, taking the state's Covid tally to 28,78,564, including 32,383 active cases, while recoveries rose to 28,10,121, with 3,188 patients discharged during the day.

As epicentre of the pandemic in the state, Bengaluru, however, reported only 462 fresh cases on Wednesday, taking its Covid tally to 12,20,960, including 12,524 active cases, while 11,92,664 recovered, with 501 patients discharged earlier in the day.

Out of 1,38,274 tests conducted across the state during the day, 31,859 were through rapid antigen detection and 1,06,415 through RT-PCR method.

Positivity rate dipped to 1.42 per cent and case fatality rate was at 2.42 per cent across the state on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, only 70,651 people, including 35,824 above 45 years and 31,850 in the 18-44 years age group were vaccinated across the state during the day.

"Cumulatively, 2,65,59,710 beneficiaries, including senior citizens, healthcare workers and frontline warriors received the jab since the vaccination drive was launched across the southern state on January 16," added the bulletin.