Coronavirus: Karnataka reports 425 positive cases; 4-month-old infant tests positive

Seven more people tested positive for coronavirus infection across Karnataka taking the total to 425  

Bengaluru: With the state reporting 7 new coronavirus cases, the tally of positive cases went up to 425 in Karnataka. Among the total people infected as on date, 129 have recovered and 17 have passed away.

Bengaluru reported 2 new cases with 28-year-old woman and 56-year-old man testing positive. Kalaburagi, which reported two coronavirus deaths, reported 5 more positive cases today. 

A four-month-old infant too tested positive in Karnataka. More details are awaited in regard to this case. 

However, reports suggest that testing is a lag story in the state as around 5,000 swab samples of COVID-19 suspects are pending for testing in various laboratories of Karnataka, indicating the need to push the capacity of existing labs and expand testing by adding more facilities.

The backlog increased during last week as districts started sending more samples, including those of primary and secondary contacts and patients with severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) and influenzalike illness (ILI).

As on April 18, the number of samples received was 24,424 and those tested was 19,186. In Karnataka, 17 laboratories are now testing about 2,000 samples a day, but the backlog hasn’t come down as the state has been sending more samples since April 15.