Random testing throws up one Covid-19 case in Padarayanapura

A Padarayanapura resident has become the first-of-its-kind case, testing positive for Covid-19 after he was picked randomly by health workers.

The infected patient has been numbered  P513. “He was among the 22 persons whose swab samples were collected randomly. He did not have any fever or any kind of symptoms but he was found Covid-19 positive. We have admitted him in a designated hospital,” said an officer who is closely monitoring the situation in Padarayanapura.

Sources said this is the first time the state government has decided to pick people randomly for Covid-19 tests in Bengaluru.

”Padarayanapura was a major cluster, and on Sunday swab samples were collected. The infected person is a retail shopkeeper in the area. On Monday night, his test came positive,” an officer said.

He added that after this development, “the administration has decided to conduct such tests regularly.”

48 more samples collected

Another officer said that after the random collection threw up one  positive case, “it has forced us to conduct more checks. On Tuesday, we collected 48 more random samples. The report is expected by Wednesday.”

Karnataka tally 523

Meanwhile, Karnataka Education Minister and Covid-19 spokesperson  Suresh Kumar announced that random swab collections would be undertaken in both Padarayanapura and Hongasandra wards.

On Tuesday, the state recorded 11 more Covid-19 cases which took its tally to 523. Around 207 have been discharged till Tuesday.

Of the 11 new cases, six are from Kalaburagi, three from Jamakhandi in Bagalkot, one from Bengaluru Urban and one from Gadag.

State has 120 containment zones

According to Kumar,  there are 120 containment zones identified in the state and the number of patients from these are 436.
This apart, there are 72,611 houses in the containment zones, the aggregate population is 4,07,811,  and there are 5,931 shops and offices in these zones.EOM