Covid may peak in Bengaluru on May 17, warn experts as Karnataka goes into lockdown

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, May 10, 2021:      Karnataka has been recording the highest number of Covid-19 cases after Maharashtra and is now the second worst-hit state in the country. Even as cases continue to spike, experts have said Bengaluru may see the second wave of Covid-19 start flattening only after May 17.

 

According to a report in Bangalore Mirror, the Department of Computational and Data Sciences at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has said that the active Covid-19 cases in Bengaluru will only continue to rise further over the next week.

Bengaluru will see its Covid-19 peak around May 17, predicted the experts at IISc. The esteemed institute has further said that Bengaluru by June 11, another 14,000 people may die due to Covid-19.

To arrive at these numbers, the Bengaluru-based institute has taken into account the ongoing vaccination drive and also the lockdown-like restrictions imposed across Karnataka. The academicians have also factored in that there might be two unreported Covid-19 case for every case that is detected.

Lockdown in Karnataka

Karnataka recorded 47,930 fresh Covid-19 cases on Sunday, a tally right behind Maharashtra, which is at 48,401. Karnataka has become the second state after Maharashtra to post the maximum cases in the country.

Bengaluru Urban recorded 20,897 cases out of the state’s total of 47,000 cases. On May 5, Karnataka recorded over 50,000 Covid-19 cases, the highest so far.

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Friday announced lockdown-like restrictions with further stringent curbs from May 10 to May 24 in view of the alarming rise in Covid cases.

There was already a curfew in place in the state from April 27, which was to end on May 12.

Experts warn of rise in Covid deaths

The academicians at IISc has further said that despite the restrictions, Bengaluru will see a rise in Covid-related deaths and by June 11, 14,220 people will die. The restrictions will bring down the toll from the projected 26,000 deaths to over 14,000.

"At least in two weeks we will see a peak in Karnataka," Dr Giridhara R Babu, who is a professor and head of Life Course Epidemiology at the Public Health Foundation of India, told PTI on May 6.

Babu, who is a member of the Technical Advisory Committee on Covid, said the case detection is presently erratic because the testing numbers have reduced, especially in Bengaluru.

"I will not give a clear indication on the number of cases during the peak, but irrespective of the testing, we will see the peak in the next two weeks," he said.

Babu further added that there will be an increase in Covid deaths at least 10 to 14 days from the date of cases being reported.

Courtesy:India Today