Puttur, May 29, 2020: The incident wherein a hotel worker who reportedly collapsed to death at Darbe Nekkilady Village in Puttur taluk, has given rise to Covid-19 fears in the village. The man who had distanced himself from his family in Puttur was working at a hotel in Uppinangady. However, when the hotel closed due to lockdown he stayed with the family of an acquaintance at Nekkilady village. It is said he was an alcoholic and collapsed to death at the house. However when rumours spread he had fever, there were fears of Covid-19 and no one came forward to perform his funeral.
Finally when someone informed the police, the Uppinangady SI Eraiah managed to convince a private ambulance driver and shifted the body to the Puttur Government hospital after wrapping it in a PPE kit meant for policemen. The throat swab has now been taken and the funeral will be performed after the lab report arrives.