Good precautionary measures can help us manage Covid third wave: CM Basavaraj Bommai

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who on Tuesday issued a series of instructions to district administrations to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, said that the third wave could be managed well, despite rise in cases, if the precautionary measures are good.

The Chief Minister today held the COVID-19 vaccination progress review meeting, with the district administrations of about 18 districts. He instructed the Deputy Commissioners to raise the average vaccination coverage of the first and second dose to the level of state average by the end of the month in districts which are lagging below the state average, the CMO statement said.

"As the testing is high in Karnataka, the cases too are high. But still we have succeeded in managing it. If the precautionary measures are good then the third wave could be managed well even if the cases see a rise," Bommai said. He asked Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and District Health Officers (DHOs) to visit taluks and review distribution of medicines, and oversee the situation with all seriousness. Tele Triaging should be done immediately on receiving the lab report, he added.

Stating that precautions should be taken to ensure that the infection does not spread to other members of the family as about 94 per cent of the infected are in home isolation, the Chief Minister said, the other members of the family too should be tested and treated, if necessary. "'Vaidyara Nade Hallliyakade' programme should be started to make doctors and ANMs visit homes. A special SOP should be formulated for this," he said.

According to the release, Bommai instructed officials to test and treat those in home isolation, and identify those with co-morbidities for immediate treatment as the positivity rate is high in all districts.