From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Dec 1: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said he will discuss with Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on frontline health workers on giving booster doses for health workers and other frontline Covid warriors during his visit to Delhi on December 2, Friday.
Speaking to reporters in Hubballi on Thursday, he said it was necessary to take a decision on giving booster doses to the health workers and other frontline Covid warriors have completed six months since the second dose of vaccine and as they are still engaged in Covid control measures.
The Chief Minister said he will discuss with the Union Health Minister on the progress in the scientific research and other Covid related developments as also the Central guidelines.
The technical and medical experts have recommended that it was necessary to give booster doses to the health workers and other frontline warriors involved in Covid control measures, Bommai said.
The Chief Minister said the State Government has already sent the test sample of a person returning from South Africa to the NCBS for analysis and said necessary steps would be taken after receiving the analysis reports. Steps are also being taken to maintain strict vigilance along the Kerala borders and also intensify the vaccination drive, he said.
International passengers and students arriving from Kerala will be subjected to tests, he said.
As many as 306 persons have tested positive in Dharwad district. But when they were tested again, only two persons were found to be positive when tested again after 7 days, he said pointing out that Dharwad Deputy Commissioner has been asked be vigilant about para medical staff and students from Kerala.
The Dharwad district administration has tested about 7,000 persons and over 1000 persons within a radius of 500 mts from the infected persons. The situation is under control, he said.
The Chief Minister clarified that the Deputy Commissioner had ordered closure of the SDM College from November 25 and ordered seal down of the two hostels were two positive cases were identified. The rest of the college or the auditorium has not been sealed down or declared as containment zone. The function in the auditorium has been allowed under strict conditions of allowing only 100 fully vaccinated persons with all Covid protocols, he said.
Asked about the stipend payments dues to the junior doctors, the Chief Minister said there have been problems in some districts as the colleges did not have proper documents even though the government had released funds. Steps are being taken to ensure that all the junior doctors are paid stipends in the next two or three days.
Asked about the State High Court pulling up the government for not providing any facilities after creating new taluks, the Chief Minister clarified that there were problems on account of the Covid pandemic. The problems will be resolved soon, he promised and said government is committed to provide basic infrastructure facilities to the new taluks.
Bommai claimed that BJP will emerge victorious in the Legislative Council elections.
Asked about JD(S) supreme and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, the Chief Minister said the two leaders have discussed several issues, including local electoral understanding. JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy and former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa will take a final decision on supporting the ruling party candidates, he said.