Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jun 4: The district is losing its claim to being one of the safest havens and being home to tranquillity and relaxed lifestyle. The district's transformation and slide from being corona-free to being one of the leading districts in the state as far as corona infection is concerned really tragic. People are worried about how to accommodate infected people if their number crosses a thousand mark as arranging for beds and medical facilities round the clock is a mammoth challenge.

The number of people infected with coronavirus in the district is rapidly rising. Coronavirus patients are currently being treated at the government hospitals in Kundapur and Karkala and Dr TMA Pai Hospital in the city. The number of infected persons exceeds the bed capacity of these three hospitals put together.

Throat swab sample reports of many are awaited. Once these reports come out, the number of infected is bound to rise.

A worrying issue is that many infected persons have been placed under home quarantine before the receipt of their test reports. There is a risk of their family members contracting the infection. If elderly people and young children get infected, their condition can turn really serious.

Maharashtra has delivered a big blow to the district, with about 90 per cent of the infected people coming from that state. In the second phase, over 15,000 people are waiting to return to this district. Preparations have to be made to receive them but there is absolutely no clue how so many will be accommodated in quarantine centres here. Deputy commissioner of the district G Jagadeesha has said that Kundapur taluk hospital would be shifted to Kota and the current bed capacity at Kundapur would be expended from 120 to 200 to convert it into complete COVID hospital. He also proposed to turn Adarsha Hospital (65 beds), and Lalitambika Guest House, Kollur into full-fledged COVID hospitals so that availability of beds in the two taluks will rise to 400. He says that arrangements have been made to see that there is no shortage of beds.

Those who came in during May first week were accommodated in schools, colleges, and hostels. But with SSLC examinations underway from June 25, and as preparations are in full swing, accommodating people in these institutions is not possible.