Cautious optimism

With its falling mortality rate and high recovery rate, Bengaluru seems to be on the right path in taming Covid-19

- PRATHIMA NANDAKUMAR

BENGALURU CROSSED ONE lakh Covid-19 cases on August 21, accounting for 37 per cent of the total cases in Karnataka. In May, the city had been praised as a model for managing the pandemic as it had reported only 280 cases and 11 deaths. But since mid-July, the city has found itself battling a surge.

The surge followed the lifting of the lockdown, the resumption of economic activities, interstate migration, fatigue of Covid warriors, complacency in contact tracing and the callous attitude of the citizens. Health officials, however, hint that the pandemic may have peaked in the city. “The ongoing sero survey can indicate the peak or the prevalence and immunity levels in the community. But our focus now should be to contain the virus, reduce mortality and adhere to the social distancing norms,” said Dr M.K. Sudarshan, chairman of Karnataka’s Covid-19 technical advisory committee.