Daijiworld Media Network–Udupi (DV)

Udupi, Jan 6: The district administration has launched a 24x7 helpline desk to help the public with regard to Covid-19. The public can contact the helpline number regarding queries or concerns regarding Covid-19 in terms of isolation, quarantine, vaccination and covid test,  announced Deputy Commissioner Kurma Rao M on Thursday.

Addressing a press meet at his office in Manipal, he said at the helpline desk, as many as 270 students from AYUSH, nursing, and MSW would serve as volunteers and give suggestions to the public via telecon. Next Monday a training programme will start for the volunteers, the DC added.

As positive cases in the district are increasing, seven containment zones have been formed and essential steps would be taken to contain the spread of the virus, he said.

The covid war room helpline numbers are 9663950222, 9663957222, 96638482, 8792042104, 720453932, 7204539622, 7204719622, 720430962, 7204039322.

The government had earlier set a target of 5000 for Udupi district in terms of covid testing but now it has been raised to increase to 8500 (Udupi-4500, Kundapur-2500, Karkala,1500), the DC informed

Random testing will be done on the following groups:

* High school and college students, and teaching staff.
* Hotel and restaurant staff.
* Shopkeepers in malls and individual establishments.
* Vendors in the market, door to door catering staff.
* Employees of factories and offices.
* Staff working in the pubs and bars.
* Staff working in movie theaters and multiplex theaters.

The positivity rate in the district is slowly increasing.  In the last fourteen days, the positivity rate was 0.7 percent but in the past seven days, the positivity rate is 1 percent, the DC expressed concern.

As per the direction of the government on January 4, the private medical colleges and private hospitals should reserve 30 beds in each department for the covid-19 patients, he reminded

Similarly,  in private hospitals, 50 percent beds should be reserved in each department from January 7 for the treatment of covid-19 patients and 75 percent from January 10 onwards, he directed.

"The travelers from Kerala  are allowed to the district only with an RTPCR negative certificate generated within 72 hours of their arrival. They will be kept under observation for one day. After one week, they will be subjected to covid-19 test. Only if found negative will they be allowed to the district," Kurma Rao said.

"The district administration for the next 15 days will increase the speed of vaccination so that everyone gets the first dose. Weekend curfew in the district will be imposed as per the guidelines of the government but there will be transport facilities available. Religious and examination programmes will be held as scheduled by strictly adhering to the government guidelines," he added.

Additional DC Sadhashiva Prabhu, ZP CEO Dr Naveen Bhat Y and SP Vishnuvardhan were present.