MANGALURU: Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner Dr K V Rajendra has said the health department will launch a drive to conduct RT-PCR tests on all students from Kerala, who have arrived on campuses in the last 15 days.
The move comes in the wake of chief minister Basavaraj Bommai directing the district administration to enhance border surveillance to prevent the possibility of a third wave of Covid-19.
Meanwhile, all interstate travellers are being screened on the border. The district has already deployed police on interstate borders and is allowing commuters who have RT-PCR negative reports.
The DC said: “The test positivity rate in Kerala is still around 8 per cent and the chief minister has given directions that interstate surveillance needs to be strengthened. Personnel from police stations of respective areas on borders will man the check posts in the districts. Similarly, officials from other departments will also be deployed to conduct round-the-clock border surveillance in three shifts.”
In the last four months, border surveillance was in force, but it was relaxed in the last one month, he said. “Since the CM has given directions, we have decided to reintroduce strict border surveillance. The CM also has directed that those who are commuting daily need to be screened. Hence, we will prepare a list of daily commuters between Kasaragod and Mangaluru and start a testing facility on the border in Talapady.”
On interstate KSRTC bus services between Dakshina Kannada and Mangaluru, the DC said it will continue but passengers will have to carry RT-PCR negative reports. “We will check passengers on buses and other vehicles randomly on the borders. Meanwhile, another round of screening will also be launched soon for all students on campuses in addition to the screening of Kerala students. More technicians will be appointed to collect swabs and conduct RT-PCR tests on students,” he said.
Dakshina Kannada has many border routes that connect Kasaragod and it is a challenge for the district administration since both districts share common bonds, he said.
“Nearly 30-40% of people in Kasaragod depend on Mangaluru. Though the positivity rate in Kerala is high, it is less in the Kasaragod district. Hence, we will implement a surveillance mechanism without troubling commuters much,” he added.
District awaits SA passengers list
Asked about the Omicron virus variant spreading from South Africa and other red-list countries, the DC said the district is waiting for a list of passengers from the government. “The government will send a list of all passengers, who have arrived from countries affected by the Omicron variant. The list will include details of all passengers who have arrived in the past 15 days. Meanwhile, the passports of those who are arriving from Dubai via Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) will also be checked to ensure whether they have visited those countries. Even if the passengers from the red-list countries arrive with RT-PCR negative reports, they will be made to undergo a test here again and sent for one week’s quarantine. A meeting of MIA authorities will be held soon as per government directions,” he added.
