<span style="color: #222222;">In Karnataka, Covid surge continues with 10,704 new Covid-19 cases reported on Thursday taking the tally to 6,79,356. At the same time 9,613 people were cured from the disease and discharged from various hospitals in the State.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The total number of recoveries have gone up to 5,52,519. There are 1,17,143 active patients taking treatment in various hospitals across the State among whom 853 are in ICU.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">According to the State Health bulletin, Bengaluru has reported the highest number of 5,121 cases followed by Mysuru 642, Tumkuru 509 and Hassan with 441 cases. The State conducted 1,05,248 covid tests yesterday and the total number of tests have gone up to 56,29,550.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">AIR correspondent reports, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S.Yediyurappa held a review meeting through video conference with 10 districts having high Covid case load and mortality rate.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He issued directions to these district officials to increase the RT-PCR tests and contain mortality rate. </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">These hot spot districts namely Udupi, Shivamogga, Hassan, Mysuru, Ballari, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Dharwad, Udupi and Thumakuru account for nearly 30 percent of the State's active Covid 19 cases and 40 percent of all deaths because of the viral infection.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Chief Minister has also said that an expert team will be dispatched to Dharwad to ascertain the ground reality for the high mortality rate in the district.</span><br />