Over 8000 people underwent thermal screening for Coronavirus in Mangaluru: THO
Mangaluru: Naveen Chandra Kulal, Taluk Health Officer of Mangaluru and Dakshina Kannada District Surveillance Officer, on Wednesday informed Vartha Bharati that over 8000 people who arrived in the city over the last few days via Mangaluru International Airport and Sea Port were subjected to thermal screening in the wake of deadly outbreak of Coronavirus across the globe.
Naveen added that adequate arrangements at the airport and sea port were made immediately after the cases of Coronavirus infected individuals were reported in the neighboring state Kerala. He further added that the health department was hyper active and was monitoring the situation in the Taluk and District closely.
“Over 1200 people who have arrived in the city via sea port have been screened so far and over 7200 people went through the same thermal screening at the Mangaluru International Airport. People arriving in the city and leaving the city from these two points are being subjected to thermal screening” Naveen told Vartha Bharati.
He also informed that a couple of cruises are scheduled to arrive in the city in the coming weeks including one from Columbia and the health department would take all precautionary measures to check the passengers and crew members of the ship.
Naveen also called on people to take precautionary measures to avoid the infectious outbreak while also calling on social media users and media houses to refrain from baseless and unverified news, information about the spread of the diseases. He also added that social media reports suggested that over 8000 people in Mangaluru were “Tested” for coronavirus while in reality those were only routine thermal screening and not suspected cases.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
ALSO READ: Chinese GPS tracker found on seagull near Karwar Coast
"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
