CM seeks more oxygen, Remdesivir

At virtual meeting, he tells PM several healthcare centres may have to be shutdown if the situation continues

Flagging the severe shortage of oxygen in the State, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Friday appealed to the Centre to allocate more quantum of oxygen and Remidesivir to Karnataka as the number of cases has seen an exponential increase in COVID-19 cases, and warned of shutdown of health care centres if the situation continues. Providing a glimpse of the situation in Karnataka to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a virtual meeting of Chief Ministers, Mr. Yediyurappa said that the current positivity rate stood at 16 % in Karnataka, and urban centres such as Bengaluru, Mysuru, Tumakuru, Ballari, Hassan and Kalaburagi are among the worst affected. While 500 tonnes of oxygen has been consumed across the State on Thursday, the Chief Minister pointed out that 1,142 tonnes is estimated to be the demand by April 25, which is likely to go up to 1,471 tonnes by April 30. “However, the Centre has allocated only 300 tonnes of oxygen to Karnataka. If the same situation continues, several healthcare centres have to be closed down,” he told the Prime Minister. A note from the Chief Minister’s office said that he further urged Mr. Modi to allocate 1,471 tonnes of oxygen daily to Karnataka.