Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Mar 14: Dakshina Kannada district-in-charge minister Kota Srinivas Poojary urged people not to panic and take precautionary measures to stay safe from COVID-19. He also confirmed that no positive coronavirus case is reported so far in the district.

He was speaking in a meeting with the officials, with regard to coronavirus, here at DC’s office on Saturday.

District surveillance officer Naveen Chandra said, “So far there are no positive cases reported in the district, pertaining to coronavirus. As many as 27 people’s samples are collected out of which 17 are negative and results of 10 are awaited. Even in the airport and NMPT, all passengers are being screened. Isolation wards are set-up in Wenlock hospital, private medical colleges, PHC's, taluk hospitals of the district. Even the 80 bed isolation ward has been set-up in the ESI hospital. We have taken all the necessary steps to create awareness among the public on coronavirus.”

Health department officer Gayathri said, “Even if the report is negative, the quarantine period of 14 days needs to be followed. If the report is positive, then 28 days of quarantine and medical observation needs to be followed. All the private medical colleges have set-up isolation wards. Self quarantine is the key to prevent spread of COVID-19.”

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel urged the officials to send day to day reports to the deputy commissioner with regard to people being treated.

When Nalin asked about implementing government orders, deputy commissioner Sindhu P Rupesh said, "We have implemented the government orders, but we received complaints that some schools were functioning despite closure orders. Our officials have visited those schools and made sure that the schools remain closed.”

Nalin urged private medical colleges to take-charge of one taluk each and initiative of treating patients. If anyone needs an ambulance, the medical colleges should provide them, he said.

Hospital representatives also raised the issue on scarcity of masks, which are sold at high price and urged to lower the price, to make it available for the people. The issue was considered in the meeting with assurance to ensure availability of masks.

Meanwhile, Nalin took officials to task and told them to understand the gravity of the issue and take responsibilities seriously. “You are busy talking to each other and not considering this meeting as a serious matter. This meeting is not to take reports but to discuss precautionary measures.”

Mangaluru South MLA Vedavayas Kamath, Bantwal MLA Rajesh Naik, police commissioner Dr P S Harsha, MLC Ivan D Souza, zilla panchayat president Meenakshi Shanthigodu and others were present.