Negative RT-PCR report now must for visitors from Kerala to Karnataka
Bengaluru, Feb 16: The Karnataka government on Tuesday issued a fresh set of guidelines for people coming from Kerala, which has seen an increase in COVID-19 cases, saying these would come into force with immediate effect.
Based on recommendations of the Technical Advisory Committee on COVID-19, new special surveillance measures for those arriving from Kerala have been introduced, Additional Chief Secretary Jawaid Akhtar said in a release.
It would now be mandatory for those arriving from that state and checking into hotels, resorts, hostels, home stays and dormitories to have a negative RT-PCR certificate, "which should not be older than 72 hours."
The government said positive samples would be sent to NIMHANS here for genomic sequencing.
Those in hostels and colleges would not be allowed to have visitors or relatives without obtaining express permission from the Covid nodal officers.
A list of students travelling to and from Kerala from hostels or colleges should be maintained by a competent authority, the order said.
The government said students should compulsorily produce RT PCR negative test reports, not older than 72 hours, each time they return from Kerala and till the situation improves.
The order said that day scholars travelling from Kerala to schools and colleges in any part of Karnataka would be subjected to RT-PCR test every fortnight.
Those who had already arrived to the state from Kerala over the past two weeks should compulsorily undergo this test.
The government said the authorities concerned have to appoint a nodal person in hostels and classes to monitor the students' health condition and that of others.
Anyone not complying with the order would immediately be reported to the nodal person or authorities and made to stay in the designated "quarantine room "in the facility till RT- PCR test report turned negative.
The government asked the authorities to ramp up testing and strengthen COVID-19 surveillance activities in all colleges, residential facilities, which have accommodated the students and others from Kerala.
? ಕೊರೊನಾ ನಿಯಂತ್ರಣ ಮಾರ್ಗಸೂಚಿ
— Dr Sudhakar K (@mla_sudhakar) February 16, 2021
ಶೈಕ್ಷಣಿಕ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗಳ ಹಾಸ್ಟೆಲ್, ವಸತಿ ಶಾಲೆ-ಕಾಲೇಜುಗಳಲ್ಲಿ 5ಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಕೊರೊನಾ ಪ್ರಕರಣಗಳು ಪತ್ತೆಯಾದರೆ ಅದನ್ನು ಕಂಟೇನ್ಮೆಂಟ್ ವಲಯ ಎಂದು ಘೋಷಿಸಲಾಗುವುದು.
ಕೇರಳದಿಂದ ರಾಜ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಆಗಮಿಸುವ ಪ್ರಯಾಣಿಕರು 72 ಗಂಟೆಗಳಿಗಿಂತ ಹಳೆಯದಲ್ಲದ ಆರ್ ಟಿ-ಪಿಸಿಆರ್ ವರದಿಯನ್ನು ಕಡ್ಡಾಯವಾಗಿ ಹೊಂದಿರಬೇಕು. pic.twitter.com/NRZ90Gcb88
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Nightclub fire: Goa court remands Luthra brothers in police custody for five days
Panaji (PTI): A court in North Goa on Wednesday remanded Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, co-owners of the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub, in police custody for five days.
The brothers, brought to Goa from Delhi after being deported from Thailand in connection with the December 6 blaze that killed 25, were produced in the court after undergoing health check-ups twice at the District Hospital in North Goa.
Judicial Magistrate First Class Mapusa Puja Sardesai remanded the two brothers in police custody for five days.
Advocate Vishnu Joshi, representing Bhavana Joshi who lost four family members in the tragedy, said that the accused were asking for “special consideration” claiming poor health.
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“We said they should not be given any extra relaxation,” he said, adding that the court has taken cognisance of the fact that this is about the death of “25 people in the form of mass genocide”.
“But since they kept pressing for medical check-up, the court ordered reexamination of their health. It is clear in the medical examination that they don’t require any consideration. The accused sought special considerations in the lock-up like a good mattress, which the court refused,” said Joshi.
A team of the Goa Police, along with the Luthra brothers, arrived at the Manohar International Airport, Mopa, in North Goa at 10.45 am.
The duo was initially taken to a Primary Health Centre at Siolim for medical examination. They were then taken to the District Hospital at Mapusa.
After their health assessment, the two were brought to the court.
The court directed that the accused be sent for fresh medical examination. Accordingly, the two were again taken to the District Hospital.
Later, they were produced before Judge Sardesai, who ordered the five-day police custody of the accused.
After the fire tragedy at Arpora village, the Anjuna police had registered a case against the Luthra brothers on various charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The brothers were arrested in Delhi on Tuesday after being deported from Thailand. A court there allowed the Goa Police their two-day transit remand.
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The duo had fled to Phuket in Thailand early on December 7, hours after the fire at their nightclub, prompting the authorities to issue an Interpol Blue Corner Notice and cancel their passports.
They were detained by Thai authorities at Phuket on December 11 following a request from the Indian government, which later coordinated with officials in Thailand to deport them under legal treaties between the two nations.
Five managers and staff members have already been arrested by the Goa Police in connection with the fire.
