The first case of SARS-CoV-2 infection was detected in the Karnataka State, India on March 8, 2020 and was reported to be an international traveler returning to Bangalore Urban.¹ Out of the genome sequencing COVID-19 variants identified until today, Delta and its sub-lineages were found to dominate between March 2021 to December 2021 with total of 4027 of cases being reported in the state for this variant. Recently, Omicron has been reported as the dominant variant of concern with a total of 571 cases for this variant have been reported in the month of July 2022 followed by 303 cases for the BA2 variant of concern.² A total of 4001655 positive cases of COVID-19 and 40097 deaths due to COVID-19 have been reported in the state, with districts in the northern region of the state reporting a total of 663900 positive cases, 718 active cases and 8469 deaths as on July 28,2022.² According to the State Health Commissioner, D Randeep, although the state capital Bengaluru has been recording the highest number of positive cases in August 2022, Dharwad district of North Karnataka reported the highest number of deaths (9 deaths) followed by 5 deaths in Bellary district and 4 deaths in Koppal district in month of August 2022.³

“The state has been addressing the ongoing challenge of COVID-19 through the 5 pillars of Management i.e., Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate and Adherence to COVID-19 Safety Guidelines and Appropriate Behavior “.² An effective COVID-19 vaccination campaign to protect people against the Coronavirus infection has been implemented in Karnataka State since January 16, 2021, as per Government of India operational guidelines.⁴ The health care, frontline workers and elderly people/senior citizens and people with comorbidities who were at higher risk were the initial target groups considered for the vaccination followed by the middle-aged groups, children above 18 years and children between 12-17 years of age. Karnataka State administered total of 115 million vaccine doses, of which 47.5% people received first dose of the vaccine, 47.2% received the second dose and 5.2% received the precaution dose of the vaccine. About 0.3% of those who received the first dose did not take the second dose of the vaccine and 42% of those who took the second dose did not take the precaution dose. The district-wise vaccination dose coverage in northern Karnataka region is shown in (Figure 1). 

Figure 1. District-wise COVID-19 Vaccination Dose Coverage in Northern Karnataka Region

Out of a total of 44 million vaccine doses administered in the 12 districts of North Karnataka region, 47.8% received the people received first dose of the vaccine, 47.6% received the second dose and 4.6% received the precaution dose of the vaccine. About 0.2% of those who received the first dose did not take the second dose of the vaccine and 42% of those who took the second dose did not take the precaution dose. Belagavi District ranked highest in the 1^st dose of COVID-19 vaccination (19.2%) followed by Bellary (11.3%), Gulbarga (10.1%), Vijayapura (9.2%) and Dharwad (7.8%). Again, for the 2^nd Dose of the vaccination Belagavi ranked highest (19.6%) followed by Bellary (11.1%), Gulbarga (10.2%), Vijayapura (9%) and Dharwad (7.2%). For the Precaution dose of the vaccination, Belagavi ranked highest (23.6%) followed by Vijayapura (11.4%), Bellary (10.5%), and Dharwad (7.8%). The district-wise vaccination dose coverage in northern Karnataka region for health care and frontline workers is shown in (Figure 2). About 21.2% of health care workers were vaccinated in Belagavi district followed by 10.6% in Bellary, 10.5% in Dharwad and 10.2% in Gulbarga district respectively. The district-wise vaccination dose coverage for frontline workers depicts 25.9% of frontline workers were vaccinated in Belagavi district followed by 10.5% in Vijayapura district and 9.1% in Gulbarga district. The highest number of people were vaccinated in Belagavi district with total of 19.6%, followed by 11.1% in Bellary, 10% in Gulbarga and 9.2% in Vijayapura district. The district-wise precaution dose coverage in Belagavi district ranked highest with 22% of health care workers, 27.5% of front-line workers, 20.7% people above 18 years of age and 24.7% of elderly aged above 60 years were vaccinated, total precaution dose coverage reported as 23.6%.

Figure 2. District-wise COVID-19 Vaccination Dose Coverage for Healthcare and Frontline Workers in Northern Karnataka Region

The district-wise distribution of deaths due to COVID-19 in Northern Karnataka region is shown in (Figure 3). A total of 8469 COVID-19 deaths were being reported in Northern districts of Karnataka State. The highest number of deaths were reported in Bellary district (20.8%), followed by Dharwad (16.4%), Belagavi (11.9%) and Gulbarga (10.4%). Out of the total number of 718 active COVID-19 cases reported until 28^th July, 2022 in Northern districts of Karnataka state, the highest number was reported in Dharwad district with a total of 148 (20.6%) cases, followed by 146 (20.3%) cases in Bellary and 100 (13.9%) cases in Gulbarga respectively. Out of the total number of 663900 positive COVID-19 cases (16.6%) reported in Northern districts of Karnataka state until 28th July 2022, the highest number 115872 (17.5%) of positive cases was reported in Bellary followed by 15.1% in Belagavi district, 12.7% in Dharwad district and 11.6% in Gulbarga district respectively.

Figure 3. District-wise distribution of deaths due to COVID-19 in Northern Karnataka Region.

The district-wise number of vaccinations for different age-groups is shown in (Figure 4). Belagavi reported a highest of 18.3% vaccinations in the age group 12-17 years, 18.6% in the age-group 1844 years, 20.7% in the age group above 45 years, followed by Bellary with 11.5% vaccinations in the age group 12-17 years, 11.4% in the age-group 18-44 years, 10.7% in the age group above 45 years, Gulbarga with 11.3% vaccinations in the age group 12-17 years, 10.3% in the age-group 18-44 years, 9.5% in the age group above 45 years. 

Figure 4. District-wise COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage for different Age Groups in Northern Karnataka Region.

In July 2022, active COVID-19 cases again crossed 10000 in the state of Karnataka after a gap of over five months, one death reported in Belagavi district in Northern Karnataka region of a patient with comorbidities and diagnosed with COVID-19 infection and new infections still being reported in the state until today.

Information provided by Renuka Panchagavi, PhD, Assistant Professor, SDM Research Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Department of Hospital Administration, SDM College of Medical Sciences and Hospital, SDM University, Dharwad, Karnataka State, India. 

References

1. Andrews MA, Areekal B, Rajesh KR, Krishnan J, Suryakala R, Krishnan B, Muraly CP,            Santhosh PV. First confirmed case of COVID-19 infection in India: A case report. The                Indian journal of medical research. 2020 May;151(5):490.
2. Government of Karnataka, Department of Health, and Family Welfare, COVID-19 Media Bulletin, Available from: https://covid19.karnataka.gov.in/govt_bulletin/en (Last updated on July 28, 2022)
3. Available from:  https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2022/aug/21/latehospital-admission-leading-to-covid-deaths-d-randeep-2489683.html (Published on: August 21, 2022)
4. Available from: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/covid-19-karnatakamulling-fines-for-not-wearing-masks-at-public-places-inbengaluru/articleshow/92879488.cms (Published on: July 14, 2022)