Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu has been making startling statements — both literally and figuratively — since the beginning of the pandemic. Days after sporting a mask that appeared capable of tackling a chemical warfare (it has two chambers on either side, an oxygen compartment and a microphone), the minister said what all of us have feared for some time now: “What can the government do? Only God can save us now.”

The number of cases are going to double in two months, he said. (Bengaluru has 17,051 active cases; Karnataka, 27,853. Of the 87 deaths that the state saw on Wednesday, 60 were from Bengaluru alone).

Karnataka, which initially hogged the limelight for effectively using technology for tracing, testing and treating covid-19 is now struggling to provide beds — or help — to critical patients. There is no contact tracing happening (BBMP Commissioner BH Anil Kumar told Bangalore Mirror a few days back that his agency was not going to do “any detective work”); it takes anywhere between three to nine to get the test results and treatment is in a shambles (Bangalore Mirror’s sister publication The Times of India reported on Wednesday that 89 of the 90 intubated pa

tients at BMCRI have died).

So, what went wrong?

All on paper, nothing on ground In March, the government had said that it had made arrangements for quarantining one lakh patients. But with a little under 30,000 active, the government is looking to god to save people.

A senior minister said everyone in the government was busy hogging the limelight and announcing grand plans to fight covid-19. But nobody was on the ground to ensure that these plans were implemented.

The fight between Sriramulu, medical education minister K Sudhakar and revenue minister R Ashoka has not only led to confusion but has also left the bureaucracy shaken. No wonder then that officers saw an opportunity and finalised a rental contract for Rs 800/bed/day for 10,000+ beds at the Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre (BM broke the story on July 7 after which chief minister BS Yediyurappa blasted officials forcing them to bring down the costs involved; the centre, which was supposed to be ready by Monday will now take another week or so due to the corruption that crept into the system).

Former chief minister Siddaramaiah has alleged that there is Rs 3,000-crore scam in covid-19 management. He has attributed this scam to differences among ministers. The Congress has now started a campaign #LekkaKodi (give account) seeking details of the funds spent on fighting the pandemic. Some of his questions include the number of quarantine centres across the State and how much the government is spending on each person in quarantine.

“But instead of answering my questions, BJP ministers are asking me to produce proof and come to Vidhana Soudha,” he said.

Complacency

In the initial days, the State prepared for the likelihood of 1.6 per cent of the 6.5 crore population in Karnataka getting covid. But when the daily numbers remained in single and double digits, medical or testing facilities were not scaled up. In July, when the numbers rose exponentially, the government was caught sitting on its hands. People started dying on the roads, waiting for ambulances. BJP MLC Lahar Singh said he had to call up Ashoka and IAS officer Tushar Girinath for an ambulance for a critical patient. But despite the assurances, no ambulance turned up and he had to make his own arrangements.

Go government go

Former minister Krishnabyre Gowda says he is shocked by Sriramulu’s statement. “The government should resign and go home… The situation is out of control and people do not know where to go for a hospital. Even other patients are not getting health care facilities,” he said.

KPCC president DK Shivakumar also blames the government. “It is all because of infighting among the ministers. There are seven ministers and one MLA in charge of covid-19. Has anyone come in their way,” he asked.

In his government’s defence, Sudhakar, said that now is not the time to indulge in blame game.

What lies ahead

The chief minister has asked officers to procure another 200 ambulances. Dr CN Manjunath, director of Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, said the lockdown will be used to ramp up medical facilities.

That task looks impossible: Buying 200 ambulances in a week is no joke. Indications are that we’ll be back to square one pretty soon.