COVID-19: CM Bommai appeals for public cooperation to implement preventive measures
Belagavi(PTI): Amid spurt in COVID-19 cases in some parts of the world and cases of Omicron subvariant BF.7 found in the country, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday appealed for public cooperation in implementing the preventive measures that the government will prescribe, and also called on them to take the booster dose of vaccine.
The Chief Minister has called an emergency meeting of COVID Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) on Thursday, with experts and officials to analyse the COVID situation and precautionary measures to be taken in the state.
"At the time when we were at ease that the COVID was gone, it has aggravated in other countries. From one country China it spreads across, it is contagious. So both state and central governments have taken it very seriously, as viruses move faster than electronics," Bommai said.
Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, he said in the current situation the focus should be more on prevention.
"For prevention the earlier restrictions and booster dose (will be key). For the booster dose administration, we made efforts, but the interest shown towards the first and second dose were not seen towards the booster dose, this has happened across the country. We will give importance to it," he said, adding the focus will now be on immediate preventive action.
Bommai further said, "Through this House I seek the cooperation of the people of the state. I appeal to them to cooperate with the actions taken by the government at this stage. So that in the future we can control hospitalisation and deaths, and what happened during the first two waves doesn't repeat."
Noting that in countries like China, Japan, South Korea and the USA, COVID cases and related hospitalisation have increased, Health Minister K Sudhakar too appealed to people to take booster or preventive doses of vaccination, as he pointed out that its coverage has been only 20 per cent in the state.
"We have successfully completed the first two doses of vaccination hundred percent, but booster or preventive dose did not get good response, with only 20 percent coverage. So we have planned to organise a vaccination camp at the legislature here for legislators to start with. We will have such camps for preventive doses across the state to ensure that people take the vaccination," he said.
Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah, urged that the booster dose should be made compulsory, as "life is important."
Urging the central government to stop direct flights from China to India, he also urged the state government to take preventive measures on a war footing.
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One dead, 20 rescued after tourist boat capsizes off Calangute beach in Goa
Panaji, Dec 25: One person died and 20 others were rescued after a tourist boat capsized in the Arabian Sea off Calangute beach in North Goa on Wednesday, police said.
The incident occurred around 1.30 pm, they said.
"A 54-year-old man died and 20 others were rescued and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment after the boat they were travelling in capsized," a senior police official said.
Except for two passengers, all others were wearing life jackets, he said.
The passengers included children as young as six year old and women, he said.
Spokesman of Drishti Marine, a government-appointed lifesaving agency, said the boat capsized around 60 metres away from the coastline, resulting in all the passengers falling off into the sea water.
A family comprising 13 members from Khed in Maharashtra were among the passengers on board, he said.
On seeing the boat getting capsized, a personnel of Drishti Marine rushed to aid and called for backup, he said.
"In all, 18 on-duty lifesavers rushed to the aid of the struggling passengers and brought them to shore safely," he said.
The injured passengers were administered first aid, while those who were found to be critical were rushed to a medical facility in an ambulance, the spokesman said.
"Of the 20 passengers, two children aged six and seven each, and two women aged 25 and 55 each, were revived and hospitalised," he said, adding that two passengers on the boat were not wearing life jackets.
Goa is a popular tourist destination, especially during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The incident occurred a week after a speeding Navy craft undergoing engine trials lost control and crashed into passenger ferry 'Neel Kamal' off the Mumbai coast, killing 15 persons. The ferry, carrying more than 100 passengers, was on its way from Gateway of India to Elephanta Island, a popular tourist attraction famous for its cave temples.
