BENGALURU, 28 MAY 

Amid rising concerns over Covid cases, Karnataka Minister Dr Sharan Prakash Patil has instructed State run medical colleges and hospitals, as well as doctors and health workers to be prepared to handle a spike in Covid positive cases.

"There is no reason for the public to panic, as the government has taken all precautions,” said Dr Sharan Prakash Patil, the minister for medical education, skill development and livelihood, who is also Raichur district in-charge.

As schools are set to reopen after summer vacation, he advised parents to not send to school students showing symptoms of fever, cold or cough. If children develop symptoms during school hours, parents should be contacted and the child sent home immediately, he said.

"We must conduct testing for all SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Infection) cases. I've held meetings with directors of all medical education hospitals," he said.

Even though no case was reported in the district so far, the RIMS hospital in Raichur on Wednesday said it is prepared to handle the situation in case there is a Covid-19 flare up. “Our hospital is ready to take care of the Covid patients. We have the beds ready,” said Medical Superintendent Arvind Sagar of RIMS Hospital. —ANI and PTI