Bhatkal: 45 including top health official test positive for COVID-19; partial lockdown enforced
Bhatkal: The sharp increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the Coastal Karnataka continued on Monday as Uttara Kannada District reported over 80 fresh cases of the virus. In the District, Bhatkal alone accounted for 45 new cases in a single day.
A top official of Bhatkal Taluk Government Hospital also tested positive for the deadly virus along with a few other staff of private testing labs, which has triggered panic among the residents. On Monday, 11 women, one girl, and one girl child along with 19 men, 7 boys, and six kids (boys) tested positive for the virus.
The surge in cases of the virus in Bhatkal Taluk has forced the District Administration to enforce the lockdown once again. An official statement from the Deputy Commissioner ordered lockdown in the town limits between 2: pm to 6 am with all the commercial activities set to remain closed.
Bhatkal Assistant Commissioner, Bharat S, added that people will not be allowed to step out between 2: pm to 6: am unless in cases of medical emergencies.
Meanwhile, the administration has also initiated a WhatsApp campaign to reach out to the masses and to manage the grim-looking situation in the town.
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AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
