Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Mar 18: Deputy commissioner (DC) Dr K V Rajendra took the second dose of Covid vaccine here at Wenlock hospital on Thursday March 18.
Speaking to media, he said, “There is a surge is Covid cases in the district. I urge people not to panic and take all kind of preventive measures. I also urge senior citizens and people aged above 45 who have high blood pressure or sugar to consult nearby primary health care centres and take vaccine. Do not neglect any symptoms by taking medicines. Conduct Covid tests and you will get the report within 48 hours.
“People should wear masks and maintain social distance. We will also deploy 20 to 30 home guards similar to BBMP marshals to keep an eye on people who violate Covid norms. They will be deployed in public places, events and ceremonies. Regarding this, a meeting will be held with the concerned officials. We will work on giving provision for home guards to impose fines on violators. They will work round-the-clock at different places and 80% will be on corporation limits where there will be more crowds.
“We will also create awareness among people in public places to take all kind of preventive measures. We are one among the several districts which is reporting more than 70 cases per day and we need more awareness. We will also conduct vaccination for temple staffs as they too belong to the vulnerable section. We have over 500 temples of A, B and C categories and over 1,000 temple staffs may be administered Covid vaccination. We will make arrangements to bring people by KSRTC buses with the help of local officials, as there are some remote places with several people waiting for vaccination.
“A meeting will be held to discuss about bringing a standard operating procedure for programmes and events in the coming days. We have conducted one round of testing in 100 colleges in which students have tested positive, in which only countable numbers are symptomatic,” he said.
District health officer Dr Ramachandra Bayari said, “Today, 69 people have tested positive. From December to March 14, as many as 8,347 Kerala origin students underwent Covid test in the district, in which 425 tested positive. The district has a target of reaching out to 2,01,609 senior citizens for Covid vaccinations. As many as 19,050 have already took the vaccination.”