People coming from Kerala, Maharashtra to be monitored closely for COVID-19 in K'taka: Dr K Sudhakar
Bengaluru, Feb 19: People coming to Karnataka from neighbouring Kerala and Maharashtra, which have seen a spike in COVID-19 cases, will be monitored scrupulously with special attention in the border districts, state Health Minister K Sudhakar on Friday said.
He did not rule out the possibility of a second wave of COVID-19 in the state and cautioned the people against any negligence as the pandemic was still not over.
Noting that coronavirus cases were increasing in Kerala and Maharashtra, he said "I have written to the Home Minister, also to the Deputy Commissioners of all the border districts and willbe having a video conference with them tomorrow.
Special attention has to be given in the districts bordering the two districts," Sudhakar said.
Speaking to reporters in Chikkaballapura, he said, there was increasing negligence among people and they seemed to have developed a misconception that the COVID-19 has gone, warning of an impending "danger", if precautions like wearing masks and maintaining distance are not followed.
"Definitely COVID has not completely gone, but fortunately the vaccination has come....all those coming from Kerala and Maharashtra will be monitored scrupulously. Our department has already issued guidelines, those (from Kerala) cannot come without an RT-PCR negative certificate," he added.
Karnataka earlier this week had issued new guidelines mandating all those coming to the state from Kerala to carry a negative RT-PCR test report not older than 72 hours.
The Minister also said soon a meeting will be held under the leadership of the Chief Minister with Deputy Commissioners of all districts regarding the vaccination and the alertness that has to be maintained in the days to come as there was a possibility of a second wave.
As of Thursday, cumulatively 9,46,860 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in Karnataka which included 12,282 deaths and 9,28,767 discharges. The active cases stood at 5,792.
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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.
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"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.
