In Dakshina Kannada, border surveillance is stepped up in the wake of the Covid-19 spike
MANGALURU: In the wake of increase in Covid-19 cases, Dakshina Kannada district administration in association with Mangaluru City police and DK police have made the border surveillance strict on all major and minor interstate roads. Deputy commissioner Dr KV Rajendra and city police commissioner N Shashi Kumar on Friday visited Talapady, which is the main entry point from Kasaragod district to Mangaluru.
From the past couple of days, Covid-19 cases have seen an upward spiral in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. While 396 fresh cases of virus infections were reported in Dakshina Kannada on Thursday, Udupi recorded 174 cases. While Dakshina Kannada reported eight fatalities, one death was recorded in Udupi.
The active caseload of Dakshina Kannada increased from 2,363 to 2,551. Meanwhile, Udupi’s active caseload increased from 893 to 1,000. The Covid-19 death toll of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district increased to 1,410 and 414, respectively. Meanwhile, the test positivity rate in Kasaragod was 11.1% on Thursday and the district had reported 929 positive cases. The border district has 7,001 active cases.
Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner Dr K V Rajendra told TOI that the test positivity rate in Kerala is 13-14% and people, who have taken a single dose of vaccine from Kasaragod district are also travelling frequently to Dakshina Kannada. “Two doses of vaccine will give personal protection, but infectivity will be there among them too. I have apprised the situation in Dakshina Kannada with the chief minister and chief secretary. We have a lot of challenges here and we have not reduced the number of tests. We will convene a meeting of the district disaster management authority on Saturday. Border surveillance will be tightened, and strict measures will be adopted to enforce mask and social distancing norms in public places. We are also planning to stop all public gatherings in the district,” the DC said. Dakshina Kannada district had recently allowed interstate buses between Kasaragod and Mangaluru. Meanwhile, people from Kerala also arrive here through trains too. The DC said surveillance team will also be deployed at railway stations in the city.
