Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Dec 23: Deputy commissioner (DC) Dr Rajendra K V on Thursday December 23 informed that though the positivity rate is low in the district, the public should voluntarily give importance to contain the spread of the virus during festivals, other celebrations or public gatherings.

Speaking during a press meet, the DC said, "As of now, the positivity rate in the district is 0.26%. The Covid cases are declining. As many as only 35 people are in hospital. The total number of active cases are 164. As cases of Omicron are spreading very rapidly, the public should follow the Covid appropriate behaviour.”

He also urged the public to follow the government's guidelines to contain the spread of the virus while celebrating festivals.

“In the district, the people who have tested positive for Omicron are healthy. After 10 days of isolation and after two RT-PCR tests, they will be freed from Isolation.

“The students from Kerala who are pursuing their education here have returned to their native for Christmas and new year. While returning back to the district, they should mandatorily come with a RT-PCR negative certificate. It has been directed to their educational institutions and hostels to keep them isolated for seven days,” he said.

The DC also said that a proposal to start a genome sequencing lab in Mangaluru has been sent to the government. “As of now, the samples are being sent to Bengaluru. Hence, the report gets delayed. If a laboratory is set up in Mangaluru, it will help several districts. As many as 120 samples were sent and 33 reports have been received. As many as 87 reports are yet to be received,” he said.

As many as 1.15 lac people are yet to receive the Covid first dose vaccine in the district, the DC informed.

Additional DC Chennabasappa, in-charge health officer Dr Rajesh, and Covid nodal officer Dr Ashok were present.