Random sampling results add to Dakshina Kannada’s coronavirus positive case surge

MANGALURU/UDUPI: Random samples from Ullal area testing positive – 48 in all contributed to the 147 Covid19 positive cases that Dakshina Kannada district recorded on Sunday. This by far is the largest single-day surge in positive cases that DK has seen since the first case of this global pandemic was recorded in Karnataka on March 8. Neighbouring Udupi on the other hand recorded 45 fresh cases taking the active cases in the two districts to 849.
Octogenarian former KPCC president B Janardhan Poojary and four of his family members including his nonagenarian mother-in-law, wife, youngest daughter-in-law who tested positive are undergoing treatment.Test report of his younger son is awaited. Trustees of Kudroli Sri Gokarnanatha Temple of which Poojary is the chief patron said the family is doing well and Poojary himself largely asymptomatic tested positive during a random test.
District health authorities discharged 37 patients on Sunday that DK saw fresh spike in cases. Besides the 48 cases detected in random sampling, 40 who tested positive had influenza like illness (ILI), 35 were primary contacts, 15 were international and inter-state travellers, two with international travel history from Malaysia by ship, two cases of SARI and rest pre-surgery sample collected before delivery (2), before surgery and before biopsy (1 each).
The surge in cases also saw a steady rise in those undergoing treatment at the ICU of district Wenlock Hospital, designated Covid19 hospital. As on date, 10 patients with co-morbidities are undergoing treatment there. DC Sindhu B Rupesh said with the steady rise in positive cases, the state government has permitted home treatment for asymptomatic patients and the same will be implemented in the district as per norms prescribed.
In neighbouring Udupi, the 45 fresh cases took the total positive cases in the district to 1321 and active cases to 183, keeping in third in list of districts behind Bengaluru Urban and Kalaburagi with positive cases. As on date, 1136 people have been discharged, DC G Jagadeesha said. The district has recorded three deaths so far, DC said. The ward and village level task force are keeping strict vigil on people referred to home quarantine.