Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Mar 30: Udupi deputy commissioner G Jagadeesh said that Dr TMA Pai Hospital, Udupi, will be used to treat coronavirus (COVID-19) patients. “High risk patients will be kept in SDM hospital. We have instructed for installation of 20 beds in respective government taluk hospitals,” he said.
“All treatment is provided free of cost at Dr TMA Pai hospital. As of now, one Manipur based Covid -19 patient is identified as high-risk and his travel history seems dangerous. We will file a case on him for violating government rules,” he said.
There are 8 ventilators available, 26 in private hospitals and 9 in government hospitals. We have sent a proposal for additional 10 ventilators for the district, he added.
Udupi and Uttara Kannada need laboratories to test Covid-19 infection. KMC Manipal has all the facilities and it is eligible to have the designated lab. We have conveyed the urgency to set-up the lab to chief minister and chief secretary. We hope that we will get the due approvals soon,” the DC said.
There is a shortage of masks and sanitizers in the city. Some medical shops are creating demand by raising prices. Currently, we are roping in liquor factories to produce sanitizers, he informed.
The DC confirmed that there is no ban on fishing activities. However, he added that the number of workers should not exceed five. “Any kind of fishing activities can be done with precautionary measures. However, boat owners will be accountable for migrant workers engaged in fishing. They should be given shelter and basic facilities up to April 14. If arrangements are not made, district administration will take strict action against boat owners,” he warned.
“Oil, rice, grocery mills should not be closed until April 14. There are 4000 migrant workers in Udupi and 435 are shifted to destitute camps. The remaining are sent to their own shelters. Some donors and temple administrations have volunteered by providing food kits,” the DC said.
A series of suicides were observed in the district, mostly attributed to lack of alcohol. Sashidhar Suvarna (46) from Kapu, Raghavendra (37) from Kapu, Nagesh Acharya (37) from Karkala, Ganesh (42) from Udyavar, Aravind (37) from Hebri and Walter D’Souza (57), Udupi, have committed suicide in the last few days.
Answering to increasing cases of suicides, the DC said, “District hospital is already providing counselling to needy people. If counselling is required, Dr P V Bhandary is ready to counsel them.”
MLA Raghupathi Bhat said, “Udupi has three positive cases. Now, we have to be more careful and stay at home.”
Regarding query on health condition of first case, KMC medical superintendent Dr Avinash Shetty said the patients’ health is stable and improving.
Preethi Gehlot, CEO Zilla Panchayat, Vishnuvardhan, district superintendent of Police, Dr H S Ballal, pro-chancellor, MAHE, Narayan Sabhahit, registrar of MAHE were present.