Response to COVID-19: Karnataka, India

While the COVID-19 pandemic has spread like wild fire, some parts of the world have bucked the trend through careful planning, imaginative use of technology, efficient deployment of available resources, and community participation. Such efforts are leading to inspiring success stories. The state of Karnataka is located in the south-western region of India, with a population of over 61 million; comparable to the population of the United Kingdom. Importantly, Karnataka was the first state in India to invoke the provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 19873 . Karnataka widened the definition of ‘contact’ defined by the Indian government to include not only high-risk but also low-risk contacts; which helped to more effectively identify, trace and isolate exposed individuals and households, further helping in curbing the spread.