Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Mar 31: District in-charge minister Kota Srinivas Poojary on Tuesday, March 31, said that grocery shops will be open from 7 am to 12 noon from Wednesday, April 1.

Addressing media he said, "Grocery stores, and vegetable and fruit shops will be open from 7 am to 12 noon. There will be no complete lockdown as such.

“After three days of complete lockdown, public was allowed to buy groceries from 6 am to 3 pm on March 31, but the district administration noticed people thronging into the market and shops without maintaining social distance. So in this regard, decision has been taken for relaxing the lockdown rules from April 1. Groceries shops, medical, gas supply, banks, and petrol pumps will remain function.

“Scores of people gathered at central market and Suratkal market today. Taking this into consideration, there will be complete restriction for public to the markets. Only dealers will be allowed to these markets from April 1.

“People are not allowed to stand in queues at grocery shops. If more people gather, shopkeepers will have to take grocery list from the customers and take their phone numbers. Once the grocery items are ready, shopkeepers have to call the customers who can come n collect their items.

“Department of Health and Family Welfare, Dakshina Kannada district, will set up 13 fever clinics across the district in wake of coronavirus outbreak. The clinics will be set up at taluk hospitals in Bantwal, Beltangady, Puttur and Sullia, at eight medical college hospitals and at district Wenlock Hospital,” he said.

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said, "After three days of lockdown, there were no positive cases in the district. But today, there one has tested positive here. Regarding opening of Mangaluru-Kasargod border, we need to protect our district. We will not open the border.”

MLAs Vedavyasa Kamath and Dr Bharath Shetty were present.