Karnataka: Over 1,120 villages are free of Covid-19 in Chikkaballapur

CHIKKABALLAPUR: In a heartening sign, 1,126 out of 1,521 villages in Chikkaballapur district are currently free of Covid-19. The Mindigal gram panchayat in Chintamani taluk has not seen any cases since May 24, becoming the first Covid-free GP in the district.
The GP covers 15 villages with a total population of 5,052 and has three primary health centres. Panchayat development officer Syed Kaleem Ulla said that efforts such as constantly raising awareness about Covid protocols were being taken to prevent cases.Mindigal GP president MS Vijayakumar oversees sanitisation of houses and ASHA workers go from door to door to check on 1,108 households, Ulla added.
Nearly 2,000 people aged above 45 reside in Mindigal and all of them have been vaccinated. Twenty-five people tested positive in the GP during the second wave and 17 were hospitalised. All the patients recovered by May 23. Two more GPs, Kadadalamari in Chintamani taluk and Mudhulodu in Gowribidanur taluk, are also currently Covid-free.
P Shivashankar, the CEO of Chikkaballapur zilla panchayat, said that GPs were being offered incentives for progress in combating the pandemic. Deputy commissioner R Latha said that Chikkaballapur was inching towards becoming a Covid-free district.