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Passengers from Dubai grouped into A, B, and C categories


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, March 20, 2020:  Close on the heels of patients testing positive for Covid-19, Dakshina Kannada district administration stepped up its efforts to contain the outbreak of the disease in the district.

 

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Deputy Commissioner Sindhu B Rupesh said passengers arriving from Dubai were being screened and were grouped into ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ categories since Wednesday evening. In category A are passengers suspected to be infected with Covid-19 during the thermal screening.

They were immediately admitted to the isolation ward in Wenlock District Hospital and swabs were sent to laboratories.

Six passengers, above 65-years-old and suffering from complications like blood pressure (BP), diabetes, asthama and other health conditions, were classified as Category B and sent to ESI quarantine centre.

Those less than 60 years and considered as ‘low-risk’ were grouped under ‘C’ category and sent to their homes respectively for self-quarantine.

Stamping of passengers

‘’As 50% of the passengers who arrived at Mangalore International Airport were from Kerala, they were ferried from the Airport to Kasargod in five KSRTC buses,’’ DC said and added that the ‘stamping’ of passengers arriving from Dubai began from Thursday onwards.

Sindhu clarified that stamping should not be considered as a stigma. ‘’It is social-distancing in order to contain the outbreak of Covid-19,” she stressed.

Govt offices closed

Government departments, teeming with people, will remain closed till March 31, she added.

Registrar office, Atalji Kendras, Aadhaar centres, Spandana, RTO, gram panchayats and urban civic bodies will remain closed. But emergency services like fire, police and hospitals will remain operational, she said.

The staff will report to work and will attend to emergency cases, the deputy commissioner stressed.

Covid-19, a disaster

Sindhu also appealed to the hospitals to restrict patients to outpatient clinic. Replying to a query, she said that all expenditure borne from shifting passengers in KSRTC buses were being met from funds allocated for State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF).

“Government has declared Covid-19 as a disaster,’’ she added. Surveillance of vehicles and people was increased along the border in Sullia.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Roopa, Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) Commissioner Ajith Kumar Shanady and Joint Commissioner Santosh Kumar were also present.


Courtesy:Deccan Herald