Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Mar 18: The deputy commissioner of the district, G Jagadeesh, said that under instructions from the state government, various measures have been undertaken in the district to stop coronavirus from spreading. "No leave should be granted to staff during this period. People who leave their headquarters without the permission of the deputy commissioner, superintendent of police or chief executive officer, will face action under the National Disaster Management Act," he warned.

He was speaking after presiding over the coronavirus regulatory meeting held in his office on Tuesday, March 17.

He asked the heads of local bodies and taluk panchayat executive officers to obtain full details of tourists staying in lodges and information about new visitors to apartments. He also said that those create a scarcity of masks and selling them for higher prices will face action. All the hospitals including private ones should set aside two beds for the treatment of coronavirus patients. Private practitioners, private nursing homes and hospitals etc should report to district health officer immediately after people exhibiting symptoms of this infection visit them," he instructed.

He said that no more than a hundred people can come together in functions, adding that in religious centres, other than the routine rituals like periodical puja, no other processes or special pujas should be performed. In the case of religious programmes already fixed, minimum attendance should be ensured. Yekshagana performances cannot be held, he added. He further said that sports tournaments and camps too should not be organized.

Zilla panchayat chief officer, Preeti Gehlot, superintendent of police, N Vishnuvardhan, additional deputy commissioner, Sadashiva Prabhu, district health officer, Dr Shdhir Chandra Sooda and officials of various departments were present.