Media Release

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Mar 19: While the shocking news that Coronavirus has hit Karnataka, the heat has touched Udupi also. Soon after Udupi DC imposed section 144 as a precaution, the people in the coast are stunned. The environment of undeclared emergency exists in the thickly populated Kundapur.

The confusion:

The people are anxious due to the news coming ever hour. People are afraid if a person has a cold in a house. People have to face changing weather conditions also. The villagers can neither neglect nor can they go to the hospital. The advice and suggestions by doctors and experts cannot be heard by ordinary people due to the fear in them.

Kundapur is silent:

Kundapur was completely silent on Thursday. Business establishments and administration affairs were voluntarily restricted. As holiday was declared by the court and the department of excise, nobody came near the court. Only a handful number of people were seen in Mini Vidhana Saudha that used to be filled with people on normal days. Vehicles and people on the roads were also less. Talk on coronavirus could be heard from the mouths of everybody. A few people had covered their faces with masks.

Police are troubled:

Police personnel also are worried about coronavirus. They attend to duties only after wearing masks. Female college students and women heading to markets could be seen covering their faces inevitably by masks or kerchiefs. Most shops were empty without customers. Passengers in buses were also few.

Restriction on everything:

Conducting events, programmes were restricted in the district because of coronavirus. Though weddings, house warmings and other small programmes were allowed, there are restrictions on the number of guests. Public meetings are completely banned. The authorities have kept an eye on transport facilities. Therefore, the coast has become quiet.

Foreigners to be examined:

Those who arrive from abroad have been asked to get themselves examined for the virus at the centers before coming home. Police personnel and health officials have admitted those who came directly to houses into the virus test centers and released later. Therefore, people suspect that those who arrive from abroad to be the victims of the virus. However not even a single person in Udupi is found to be corona positive. That has been a matter of satisfaction in between all the confusion.

Corona effect - Virus suspect flees, church services cancelled:

As the fear over corona increased, a rapid response team was formed in Kundapur. The Udupi district sub-division public hospital surgeons office team of Dr Nagesh, Dr Veena, Dr Sujatha, Dr Veena Shanker and Dr Krishap Krishna released the notice in this direction.

Suspect flees:

Mohammed Muzamil(32), resident of Navunda village said to have come from abroad has fled ignoring the directions of the doctors that he should get himself examined as he has coronavirus symptoms. Hospital doctors have complained to Kundapur police personnel in this connection. Police personnel are looking out for him.

All the masses in Udupi church cancelled:

Udupi bishop Dr Jerald Isac Lobo has said that all the masses scheduled in the churches of Udupi diocese till March 31 are cancelled.