Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has reassured the state’s readiness as Covid cases surge in neighboring Kerala. Expressing concern over the escalating cases in Kerala, Rao recommended that senior citizens in Karnataka with co-morbidities wear masks as a precautionary measure. He emphasized that the state government is closely monitoring the situation in Kerala and is equipped with the necessary resources to address any potential challenges.
During a visit to Kodagu, Rao stated that a detailed advisory would be issued soon, and discussions on the matter were held in a meeting. As a proactive measure, he urged individuals aged over 60 with underlying health conditions to wear masks. The minister disclosed that the state government had instructed hospitals in districts bordering Kerala to remain alert and adequately equipped. Rao further pledged an increase in the number of Covid tests conducted in the state to identify and manage potential outbreaks effectively.
While addressing the public, Rao appealed for calm, assuring citizens that the situation is currently under control. The health minister is scheduled to convene a meeting with the Technical Advisory Committee on Covid, led by Dr. K Ravi, to enhance preparedness measures. The Union Ministry of Health has initiated preparedness measures following the identification of the JN.1 subvariant of COVID in Kerala, detected during routine surveillance conducted by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG).