Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (KR)

Udupi, Apr 23: State home minister and Udupi district in-charge Basavaraj Bommai headed a meeting at the Dr V S Acharya Hall of the district administration on Thursday, April 23. Officials present in the meeting were deputy commissioner (DC) G Jagadeesha, superintendent of police N Vishnuvardhana, chief executive officer Preeti Gehlot, and Zilla Panchayaths among others.

After the meeting with various officials of the district, Bommai addressed the media and stated that he was in constant touch with the DC and was gathering updates on a regular basis.

He expressed his gratitude for the tremendous job done by the officials at various levels who have been constantly monitoring the situation to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the district.

Statistics of the COVID-19 cases in Udupi as on April 23

The district statistics show that about 993 tests were conducted of which 880 tested negative. Over 110 tests were pending, the results of which are expected to arrive in a few days. Only three cases were positive all of which have recovered and been discharged from the hospital. As a precautionary measure, about 3,100 are kept under home quarantine and are being closely monitored. A total of 1,892 have completed 28 days of quarantine. Meanwhile, around 2,325 have completed 14 days of quarantine and 697 have been placed under home quarantine.

Closely monitoring and tracing the primary and secondary contacts of the three positive cases, the administration tested and home quarantined 210 people; 48 in the first case, 108 in the second, and 54 in the third case.

Lab to set up in Udupi district hospital

Bommai also announced an arrangement of nearly 50 beds with the centralized oxygen system, essential for a patient even at the initial stage of coronavirus. In a meeting held with all the representatives, it was also decided that in each of the taluk hospitals, about 5-10 beds would be arranged for the patients, which the district administration has assured to work towards at the earliest.

Bommai also said that he would speak in person with the district principal secretary and drug control director to make arrangement of 3,500 PPE kits for the district.

He also announced that a test lab would be installed in the district hospital under the SDR fund and the DC is all set to seek permission from the state government for the same. Prior to the pandemic outbreak, there were only two labs. However, post the outbreak, over 17 labs are operating in the district. The district has a target of setting up 27 labs by the end of the month of which one would be in Udupi.

Cases apart from with the district

As per the guidelines issued by the central government, the district would allow only five persons to enter in case of death and any additional people entering the district will be prohibited even in case of a medical emergency, the minister said. So far such a situation has not arrived, and if a similar situation arises in the future, the administration would look into how to go about it.

As the district is almost free from the virus in terms of cases, it is most likely to be declared as a green zone. All necessary measures will be taken to ensure it falls under the green zone category.

At the same time, the administration will work towards boosting the local businesses and help in resolving any issues which might occur. After the district comes under the green zone, support towards the requirement of construction materials like sand, stones, cement, steel will be provided. About the assault on the corona warriors, the minister said that all the necessary steps will be taken to protect the ASHA workers and the police personnel. The state has already enforced the law to penalise the accused. However, on Wednesday the central government armed the new Act. Meanwhile, there is a need for clarity in this regard, Bommai said. Fishing should be carried out maintaining the required social distance and vendors would be allotted time. To promote growth in the economy, he said that relaxations will be levied on certain selected sectors. However, should there be panic or increase in the number of cases, the relaxation shall be withdrawn. Meanwhile, roads are closely monitored, vehicles plying inside the district will be thoroughly checked, despite all odds such as traffic, the minister said.

When asked about MLA Zameer Ahmed testing for coronavirus, the state home minister said that matter is completely looked after by the health minister of the state.

Regarding the issue of doctors and nurses who are on contract basis and those who have planned on a protest, the minister said that he was totally unaware of that, and now that the matter is put forward he would seriously look into it.

During the meeting, Udupi MLA K Ragupathi Bhat, Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar, Kaup MLA Lalaji Mendon, Kundapura MLA Haladi Srinivas Poojary, Byndoor MLA Sukumar Shetty, Udupi DHO Sudhir Chandra Sood, zilla panchyat president Dinakar Babu, and other officials were also present.