Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Jun 7: Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner Dr Rajendra on Monday, June 7 stated that the positive cases in the district were on a rise and it was vital to bring down the number of infections. 

Addressing the media here, the DC said, "The Covid positivity rate is hovering around 20-21%. This calls for strict enforcement of guidelines to avoid unnecessary movement of the public. The positivity rate should come down to 5% for the lockdown to be lifted or else there will be partial lockdown with stringent guidelines. In order to curb the spread of infection, 10 flying squads are deputed to monitor violations in the MCC limits."

"Even in rural areas, strict measures will be undertaken. We have noticed that a lot of people are roaming unnecessarily from 6 am to 10 am, despite the fact that the essentials are available in close proximity. People are requested to stay at home and not venture out without a reason. I have asked the police department to take stringent action against the violators and set up checkposts. People should co-operate to curb and help break the chain of infection. There are some villages in gram panchayat limits where there are more than 50 cases, we will look into enforcing tougher preventive measures in such villages," said the DC.

"As many as 7,550 active cases are there in the district, 1,319 are being treated in hospitals, while 6,303 are in home isolation. 428 are being monitored at Covid Care Centres. The recovery rate is 91% and the fatality rate is 1.19%. 950 have died due to Covid, of which 210 died in the second wave. 50 black fungus cases have been reported in the district, 11 are from Mangaluru, while 39 are cases from other districts. Six deaths have occurred so far among which five belong to other districts. 120 containment zones have been identified in the district. Covid Care Centres are set up in all taluks and there is no scarcity of Remdesivir injections in the district. There are also around 16 oxygen plants in the district. Seven cases of Multisystem inflammatory syndrome have also been reported among children, but these cases have been cured with steroids," he added.

"There are more than 50 cases reported in 11 gram panchayat limits and in these places special lockdown will be imposed. Even the weddings which are already scheduled in these villages will not be allowed and until the cases do not decline, events cannot be conducted in these gram panchayat limits," said DC.

Speaking on the occasion, police commissioner N Shashi Kumar said, "As many 92 cops have tested positive in which one succumbed to the infection. 69 have recovered and are back to work, while 22 are active cases. Public cooperation is a must so that the Covid infection can be controlled. Unnecessary travel by the public will not help, I urge the public to abstain from travelling to a longer distance for the purchase of essentials."

Zilla panchayath CEO Kumar said, "Earlier a gram panchayat member had requested that a village without a positive case in last 15 days should be declared as a Covid free village. There are nine such villages that have not reported a single positive case in the past 15 days. A task force will be formed to keep an eye on such villages which have more cases and the task force committee will include NGOs as well. Shiribagilu in Kadaba is one such village without a positive case. Meanwhile, Neriya is a village that has more than 100 cases. 17 villages have more than 50 to 100 cases, 122 villages have 10 to 50 cases, and 140 villages have less than 10 cases."

The DC further advised the people to not resort to any misdemeanours if they face issues with a hospital with regard to bill payment. "Reach out to concerned nodal officers or file a complaint with the district health officer. We will redress all the grievances."

Superintendent of police, Rishikesh Sonawane, MCC commissioner, Akshy Shridhar and others were present.