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Mass throat swab collection camp held at Chembugudde


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, April 14, 2020:  The Department of Health and Family Welfare conducted a mass throat swab collection camp at Chembugudde area in Ullal CMC limits, on the city’s outskirts, on Monday.

 

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The health officials decided to collect throat swab samples of all the residents in Chembugudde after a youth, who had attended Tablighi religious gathering at Nizamuddin, tested positive for Covid-19 recently.

About 100 samples of children and women were collected from the morning. “The man, who had tested positive for Covid-19 at Chembugudde, had attended a Namaz in the local mosque. On that day, 150 to 200 people had attended the Namaz,” a source said.  Thus, officials were forced to collect throat swab samples of all the residents, as a precautionary measure.

“A team of doctors had made arrangements to collect the throat swabs. The department could not trace all the people who had attended prayers. Hence, considering it as a special case, it was decided to collect samples of throat swab of all those residing in the vicinity of Chembugudde,” District Health Officer Dr Ramachandra Bayari said.

Initially, residents were reluctant to submit their samples. Later, local MLA U T Khader, DK Wakf Advisory Committee President Kanachur Monu and local elected members instilled confidence in the people, by voluntarily allowing health officials to collect their throat swab samples.

“Until we reached the spot, no one was willing to submit throat swab samples. To dispel fears, I had asked officials to collect my throat swab sample,” said Monu.

Dr Bayari said the district administration has decided to conduct swab tests of those suffering from Influenza-Like Illness, Severe Acute Respiratory Infection and are residing within a seven-kilometre radius from the place where positive cases were reported in the district.

The district has reported 12 Covid-19 positive cases. Four among them were from Kasaragod, two from Udupi and one from Uttar Kannada districts.


Courtesy:Deccan Herald