Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru/Udupi (MS)

Mangaluru/Udupi, Sep 5: Business and economy is just reviving in both the districts after the onslaught of lockdown that was imposed during the first and second waves of Covid. In addition, the season of festivals is just around the corner. With cases dropping every day, imposition of weekend curfew at this juncture is unnecessary, say the general public and business fraternity of both districts.

File Photo

Vaccination drive is in full swing. People point out that if the statistics of the past few weeks are observed, there is no appreciable increase in the number of coronavirus infections in the twin districts. The public is also cautious as it knows the consequences of not following covid protocol. Therefore, people opine that it is not right on the part of the district administrations to continue with weekend curfew.

Though the positivity rate is more in Kerala, Udupi does not share a border with that state. The positivity rate in the district is 1.5% at present. People are questioning the necessity of imposing weekend curfew in Udupi. People's representatives too have strongly opposed the implementation of weekend curfew.

In Dakshina Kannada many traders objected to the implementation of weekend curfew. They closed the establishments on Saturday, September 4 only as a mark of respect for DC's order for just one week. The district CPIM has expressed strong opposition to the curfew and has demanded resumption of normal activity on weekends.

Santhosh Kamath, president of textiles and footwear traders’ association of twin districts, said, "We have cooperated with the district administration in response to the weekend curfew given by DCs. We are confident that the weekend curfew will be withdrawn next week and the administration will give us an opportunity to do business."