Surge in Covid-19 cases continues in coastal Karnataka districts

MANGALURU/ UDUPI: The surge in Covid-19 cases continued in Dakshina Kannada on Saturday, with the district reporting 295 fresh cases, with a test positivity rate of 2.9%. With this, the active caseload of the district increased from 713 to 994.
Dr Ashok H, district nodal officer for Covid-19, said that two more Covid clusters were found in the district.A cluster was identified with five of a family testing positive for the virus in Mangaluru taluk. All the five members of the family were primary contacts of a healthcare worker, who tested positive earlier. Meanwhile, another cluster was identified in the hostel of a medical college in Mangaluru taluk. As many as six students from the hostel tested positive for the virus, Dr Ashok said.
Teams of officials from the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) commenced a drive against the violation of Covid-19 guidelines in the city.
MCC commissioner Akshy Sridhar said 43 cases related to Covid-19 protocol violation were booked, and Rs 12,100 was collected in fines on Saturday. “The city corporation has suspended the licence of two shops in the city for violation of guidelines. Many shops in the city have been found violating the guidelines of the government regarding Covid-19. Hence, officials from the health and revenue departments of the MCC conducted drives in the city,” he said.
Meanwhile, 186 fresh cases were reported in Udupi district on Saturday. The district’s active caseload increased from 558 to708.
Out of 186 fresh cases, 137 were reported in Udupi taluk, 27 in Kundapur and 22 in Karkala taluk.
Udupi deputy commissioner M Kurma Rao held a meeting on Saturday, and directed officials to impose penalties on those who violate Covid-19 guidelines. Awareness on Covid-19 restrictions should be announced through loudspeakers fitted in vehicles transporting waste in the district, he said. The DC directed task forces at the village level to work proactively, to prevent the spread of the virus.