Karnataka's Health Minister mandates COVID testing for individuals exhibiting respiratory and flu-like illnesses, expanding screening measures to curb the spread of the virus.
Karnataka's State Health Minister, Dinesh Gundu, announced on Friday that a mandatory COVID test is now required for individuals exhibiting Influenza Like Illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI). The minister highlighted the daily testing rate of over 7,000, with a current COVID positivity rate of 3.82 percent, emphasising that the state's overall positivity rate has not yet decreased.
Following a meeting with health department officials, Minister Gundu instructed authorities to closely monitor and conduct compulsory COVID-19 screening for adults displaying symptoms of ILI and SARI. Previously, only one in 20 of these cases underwent COVID testing, but the new directive extends testing to all ILI/SARI patients in both private and government hospitals.
The minister urged caution among those with symptoms, emphasizing the need for monitoring and testing, especially for individuals in home isolation. While expressing optimism that a decline in COVID cases may begin next week, he highlighted guidance from the Technical Advisory Committee, instructing authorities to implement the provided guidelines.
In the midst of rising COVID-19 cases, Karnataka has reported 199 cases of the JN.1 sub-variant out of the 619 cases reported from 12 states till January 4. Despite the increase, officials noted that the majority of cases are opting for home-based treatment, indicating mild illness and no immediate cause for concern. The Centre has advised states to maintain vigilance and adhere to operational guidelines, given the uptick in cases and the detection of the JN.1 sub-variant.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified JN.1 as a "variant of interest," recognizing its rapid spread but deeming it to pose a "low" global public health risk.