Border liquor outlets allowed to open in Dakshina Kannada

MANGALURU: The Dakshina Kannada district administration lifted the ban on the sale of liquor in border villages. However, in an order issued on Saturday, the administration has warned action against tipplers from Kerala entering outlets in Dakshina Kannada.
In the wake of an increase in Covid-19 cases, the district administration had imposed a ban on the sale of foreign liquor in 19 border villages. Accordingly, 26 foreign liquor outlets located within 5 km of the Kerala border in Mangaluru, Bantwal, Puttur and Sullia taluks remained closed from the first week of August.The ban was imposed in a bid to prevent tipplers from Kasaragod district of Kerala visiting bars and wine shops in border areas of Dakshina Kannada.
As per a revised order issued on Saturday, deputy commissioner K V Rajendra said that liquor outlets in the 19 villages may open between 10am and 6pm from Tuesday. “Wearing masks and maintaining social distance will be compulsory, and all outlets should provide hand sanitisers. Shops should ensure that people do not gather in large numbers. Legal action will be taken against residents of Kerala, if they enter liquor shops in Dakshina Kannada without RT-PCR negative reports,” the DC warned.
95% achievement in mega vaccination drive
Dakshina Kannada district administered 1,41,817 doses of vaccines at 620 centres, as part of the mega vaccination drive on Friday. DHO Dr Kishore Kumar M said that the district has achieved 95% of its target for the day. While the district had set a goal of administering 1.5 lakh doses, 1.4 lakh people received the vaccine during the drive. As many as 72,132 people received the second dose, he said.
District RCH officer Dr B V Rajesh said that as on Saturday, the district has administered 20,35,642 doses of vaccine.
133 Covid-19 cases in DK
Dakshina Kannada district reported 133 cases of Covid-19 with a test positivity rate of 1.3% on Saturday.
While two more fatalities took the death toll to 1,630, the district has 1,264 active cases. Meanwhile, Udupi district recorded 86 fresh cases of Covid-19. Meanwhile, two more fatalities took the district’s death toll to 462. The district has 1,399 active cases.