<span style="color: #222222;">Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has directed the Health Department to increase COVID testing after cluster outbreaks were reported from Mysuru, Bengaluru, Anekal, Dharwad and Hassan. Speaking to media persons in Bengaluru today, the Chief Minister said that the Delta strain continues to be a cause of concern in the state and necessary measures are taken to curb its spread.<br />''<br />''Along with testing, concentration is on screening and tracking of positive cases and their contacts and vigilance at the state borders. He emphasised that COVID Appropriate Behaviour must be practiced to prevent major outbreak. He ruled out any stringent measures like lockdown in the state due to the cluster outbreak of Delta virus.<br />''<br />''The State Health Minister Dr. K. Sudhakar addressed the media persons before attending the meeting of Technical Advisory Committee in Bengaluru today. He said that the meeting will discuss the Standard Operating Procedure to follow when travellers arrive on international flights.<br />''<br />''Things like the number of days they need to be quarantined after arrival, whether home or institutional quarantine, testing schedule and the process to follow if the passenger is positive for COVID will be discussed in the meeting. The Minister informed that the new strain Omicron virus is now detected in 18 countries. </span><br />