Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Mar 23: District health officer (DHO) Dr Ramachandra Bayari on Tuesday March 23 said from the past two weeks, Dakshina Kannada (DK) is witnessing a surge in the number of Covid cases in the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
He was speaking during the ‘Meet the Press’ programme organised by the Dakshina Kannada Working Journalist Union (DKWJU) and the Mangalore Press Club here at the press club.
"Today, in a single day, as many as 83 positive cases of Covid-19 have been reported. From March 1, day-by-day there is a spike in the number of positive cases. In the last week, 50 positive cases have been reported. In the district, the positivity rate of the pandemic is 1.81%.
“As the number of tests increase, the number of positive cases also go up. Students from various places come to the district to pursue medical education and other courses. The cases in neighbouring Kerala and Maharashtra are rising and the district is also interconnected to these states in business aspects.
“The public has lost the fear of the pandemic and hence are participating in religious and other gatherings in large numbers. Wearing a mask, and maintaining social distance and hygiene is being neglected.
"Youth have taken this very lightly, but one should remember that when the immunity is strong, it may not severely affect you, but it can create a problem for senior citizens and those who are over the age of 45 years with comorbidities at our home. We are speaking about our rights, but we fail in our duty towards the society," he said.
The DHO also urged the public to take Covid vaccine. "One dose of vaccine will help in avoiding death. Vaccines are available in 66 government and 33 private centers in the district," he said.
“Self-protection, testing, and vaccination would help to reduce the mortality rate due to coronavirus. Covid-19 cases are spiking in Punjab and thus the department has sought compulsory RT-PCR negative report from the arrivals from the state. The health department staff are deployed at Mangaluru International Airport. In case if anyone arriving from these states fail to provide a negative report, facilities have been made for the test, but one should pay Rs 800 for the same.
“Principals of education institutions have been asked to arrange Covid tests for students from Kerala. We have also locked down a few educational institutions after the students tested positive for Covid-19,” he said.
The DHO also said that a sufficient number of vaccines are available. “There is no shortage of vaccines. There is no scientific evidence to prove that the Covid-19 virus has lost its virulence,” he said.
Earlier, Dr Bayari was felicitated.
President of DKWJU Srinivas Nayak Indaje and secretary Ibrahim Adkasthala were present.
Athmabushan compered the programme.