Rising Covid Cases in Kerala Prompt Mandatory Masks for Seniors in Karnataka

The Karnataka government has made it mandatory for individuals above 60 years of age, with comorbidities and symptoms of cough, phlegm, and fever, to wear face masks due to the detection of a case of the COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1 in neighboring Kerala. Increased testing and surveillance in border districts, such as Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada, and Chamarajanagara, have been instructed, while no restrictions on movement or gatherings have been imposed yet. The government will monitor the situation daily and issue further advisories if necessary. Hospitals and health centers have been instructed to be prepared, and a mock drill has been conducted to check their readiness.