DHARWAD/MANGALURU: Following a steady rise in positive cases in neighbouring Maharashtra and Kerala, the Dharwad district administration has ordered for compulsory testing for those arriving from the two states.
An order to this effect was issued by deputy commissioner Nitesh Patil on Tuesday. The order reads passengers from Kerala and Maharashtra must show an RT-PCR negative report on their entry into the district. This report should not be more than 72 hours older irrespective of vaccination status.
This condition is applicable to all passengers coming by flight, bus, train and personal transport.
Airlines should issue boarding passes only to the passengers carrying RT-PCR negative certificates.
This apart, it is mandatory for students and public visiting the district for education, business and other purposes to undergo an RT-PCR test once in 15 days and possess the negative report.
In an emergency situation (death in family, medical treatment), the passengers' swab shall be collected on arrival in the district. On receipt of the RT-PCR test report, further action will be taken as per state protocol, the order reads.
DK too gets tough
Inter-state restrictions on the Karnataka-Kerala border checkposts in Dakshina Kannada district will continue, till the test positivity rate of Covid-19 in Kerala reduces considerably, said ADGP (law & order) C H Pratap Reddy.
Reddy, who visited the inter-state borders at Talapady and Salethur in Mangaluru on Tuesday, said commuters from Kerala, who are visiting Dakshina Kannada, should compulsorily show RT-PCR negative certificate at the border checkposts. However, he said, there will be no restrictions for those who are visiting Dakshina Kannada for emergencies and students writing exams will be allowed to enter with their hall tickets or identity cards.
“Since the test positivity rate for Covid-19 is high in the Kasaragod district of Kerala, the Dakshina Kannada district administration and police have been taking measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Hence, the requirement of RT-PCR negative certificate for entry into Karnataka will be continued, till the positivity rate in Kerala reduces to a normal level. If people have any grievances in this regard, we have given directions to sort it out. We expect that the positivity rate in Kerala may reduce soon,” he said.
On travellers arriving in Mangaluru through trains, Reddy said that instructions have been given to the railway authorities too. “The health department has opened a swab collection centre for those who arrive at railway stations without RT-PCR negative reports. We are trying to reduce the time taken to provide RT-PCR reports for them,” the ADGP said.
