15 new COVID-19 cases reported in Karnataka, total 247

Fifteen new positive cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Karnataka, taking the total number of affected in the state to 247 on Monday as the government ruled out any community transmission.

The government also said there was an increase in the number of people being cured of the coronavirus infection in recent days with the total so far reaching 60.

Voicing concern that the COVID-19 situation has thrown the state into a deep financial trouble, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said there was a need to to find ways to overcome the crisis and announced certain measures aimed at resource mobilisation.

As of 5 PM on April 13, cumulatively 247 COVID-19 positive cases had been confirmed in the state and it included six deaths and 60 discharges, a deparment bulletin said.

The active COVID-19 cases stood at 181 with 177 patients, including one pregnant woman, in isolation wards at designated hospitals and stable while four others in the intensive care units.

"In the last five days our growth rate of cases is 6.42 per cent, we stand at 11th place (in the country in number of cases)," Primary and Secondary Education Minister Suresh Kumar said during a media briefing.

Pointing out that the number of discharges after treatment has seen a steady increase in the last few days, he said, "In the last four days itself 30 people have been discharged after recovery. I'm happy to see this."
On the source of infection in a few cases not being known yet, he said, efforts were on to find it out and ruled out any possibility of community infection in the state."We have not reached that stage."
"It was expected today, but due to change of some regulations by the Chinese government regarding exports, it is delayed. We may get in a week's time."
Asked whether the government was planning to mark the state into red, orange and green zones to enforce lockdown based on the gravity of the situation during the next two weeks, he said, "we are working at it, we will let you know."