Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Jun 8: District in-charge minister Basavaraj Bommai said that the state government would be framing standard operating procedure (SOP) to track those home quarantined while addressing in a press meet held at Dr V S Acharya meeting hall at Zilla Panchayat office Manipal on Monday, June 8 after the review meeting with the deputy commissioner and health department officials.
"We are now focusing on home quarantined and a task force committee is formed at the village level. It includes PDO, panchayat representatives, VA, ASHA workers and party workers," Bommai said.
He said that almost all the 946 COVID-19 patients would be discharged from the hospital within 10-15 days as all of them were recovering fast. Recovery rate is high, as many as 274 were discharged on Sunday. Of all the positive cases, 17 are symptomatic and 929 are asymptomatic patients and all are admitted to the designated COVID hospitals, Bommai said.
"Currently there are 672 active cases. The district reported 946 cases so far out of which 930 were returnees from outside the state. Around 908 had returned from Mumbai which accounts to almost 97 per cent of the positive cases," Bommai said.
He said that he has instructed all the departments and district administration to work earnestly on the recovery of positive cases. "The district has 350 quarantine institutions and the health department in the district has conducted tests of 2,030 people and kept them in quarantine. Udupi district is in the forefront in testing swab samples in the state," he said.
Meanwhile, more number of containment zones were marked in Byndoor and Karkala as the locations witnessed an increased number of cases.
Regarding the preparedness, he said that there is enough stock of PPE kits in the district. He asserted that over 43,500 triple-layer PPE kits, 10,240 N-95 masks and 2,045 PPE kits are available in the district.
Bommai said that he would discuss the maintenance of the tracking system of those quarantined with the chief minister and the health minister as well.
Kundapur and Karkala MLAs have proposed appointing of requisite staff on an outsourcing basis to COVID hospitals as there was a shortage of field workers, ASHA workers, and home guards.
He said that the district is making all efforts to curb the spread of the infection. The concern is placed on the frontline health workers and those employed at checkposts as they are more prone to getting infected.
Emphasizing on NREGA he said that about 1,640 houses were considered under NREGA scheme and funds were released. Out of them, 554 houses were from Udupi, 716 from Kundapur and 370 from Karkala, Bommai said.
He spoke on the illegal sand mining and assured that he is against such illegal acts and will take action against wherever necessary against those involved. He said that he would ensure the Lokayukta conducts a fair investigation at the earliest.
Zilla Panchayat CEO Preethi Gehlot, MLA Raghupati Bhat, MLA Sunil Kumar, MLA Lalaji Mendon, Zilla Panchayat president Dinakar Babu, Coastal Development Authority president Mattaru Ratnakar Hegde were also present.