Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jun 2: "The state government has failed to control spread of coronavirus. It appears to be planning to spread the pandemic to all houses by changing quarantine rules relating to this disease. There are clear indications that coronavirus situation in the state will aggravate," said former minister and MLA, U T Khader. He was addressing a press meet in the city on Monday, June 1.

He recalled that during the period when there was total lockdown, people who came from other states and abroad were quarantined for 28 days initially and then institutional quarantine of 14 days was prescribed. "During this period, the system of testing the people twice during their stay was in vogue. Therefore, the diagnosis was faster and the spread of the disease was under control. But as per the new guideline, seven days of institutional quarantine has been prescribed and the test is conducted only if the persons display symptoms of the disease," he noted. He warned that if this guideline is followed, the situation of the infection will soon turn grave in Karnataka. He advised the government to review its guideline.

Khader blamed the ministers, MPs and MLAs, who used to hold meetings every day during the early days of the lockdown, of lacking that zeal and for not taking the situation seriously even though the infection has been spreading fast. He said that no one knows about the current whereabouts of the district in-charge secretary who was appointed as a special officer for coronavirus control here, and added that in a nutshell, the worry and apprehension about the disease have increased manifold among the people.