P.T. Bopanna
Suddenly there has been a spurt in Covid-19 cases in Kodagu (Coorg) district in Karnataka, leading to fears that the coronavirus pandemic has entered the community transmission phase.
On June 24 alone, fourteen new cases were reported in Kodagu, taking total positive cases to 19. What is worrying is the fact that seven of them were front line workers (doctors, nurses, etc.) attending to patients. Of the 22 cases reported so far, three have recovered.
Even as in several parts of Madikeri and Kushalanagar towns have been sealed down to contain the spread of the virus, the resorts and homestays associations have voluntarily decided to shut down for 21 days.
With the SSLC examinations under way, the possibilities of more cases in the coming days cannot be ruled out.
Kodagu
DC Annies Joy has been quoted as saying: “Nobody has a clue on how and when the
Covid-19 will come to an end. We are running in a marathon where one cannot
rest after covering two kilometres and should continue the race.”
The first case of Covid-19 in the district was confirmed on
March 18. Since then, the district administration has been enforcing strict
guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus.
A number of steps have been taken to ramp up the infrastructure in the district, including taking over of a private hospital to treat Covid cases. There are ventilators to treat 170 people at a time in the district Covid-19 hospital. A laboratory has been set up in Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) to test samples, instead of sending them to Mysuru.
The district administration should be commended for spreading awareness on the need to maintain social distancing and wearing of masks to prevent community transmission.