Karnataka reported 35,024 COVID19 cases on Wednesday, taking the total tally to 14.375 lakh, while the state reported 270 deaths, crossing the 15,000-mark, which is the highest single-day spike for the state.

Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka on Wednesday claimed that around 3,000 people infected with Covid-19 are missing from Bengaluru. "At least 2,000 to 3,000 people in Bengaluru have gone off our radar by switching off their phones and left their houses. We don't know where they have gone," he admitted.

After his meeting with various department heads here, Ashoka, who is also Vice Chairman of the Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority, told reporters that he has already directed the state police to track and trace these missing COVID patients.

The minister added that the state government was giving free medicines to people, which can control 90 per cent of cases, but these Covid-19 infected people have switched off their mobile phones.

Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar also said the issue of the infected going missing has been going on for the past one year.

The government has imposed a lockdown for 14 days restricting unnecessary movement of people starting from Tuesday night to contain COVID cases, which is rising at an alarming proportion.

Hours after the 14-day lockdown started in Karnataka to contain the spread of COVID-19, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Wednesday appealed to the people to abide by the norms to break the chain of infection.