Ullal Muslims offer fruit juice to Hindu devotees during temple festival

Pathnamthitta, Mar 10: A man under observation for suspected coronavirus infection at the isolation ward of the district hospital here fled, but was tracked and brought back within hours. The man was among those who had interacted with the three-member family who returned from Italy and have tested positive for the virus.

Pathnamthitta district collector PB Nooh said one person, who was under observation at the general hospital had escaped but was later tracked and brought back. "If even a single person under observation goes out, it is a threat. This is a public hazard".

The one excercise which the health authorities have to undertake on Tuesday is to see how many people had come incontact with this person after he left the hospital. There is need to isolate those people with whom he mayhave come into contact, the collector said "This is the timeto behave in a very socially responsible manner".

With six positive cases being reported, the state government has already warned that stringent action would be taken against those flouting the directions of the health department. Health Minister K K Shailaja has warned that those coming from COVID19 affected nations, should report to authorities on arrival in the state, failing which a case would be registered against them under the Public Health Act.

A 3-member family, which had come from Italy recently and had tested positive along with two of their relatives had not reported their arrival to the authorities, health officials said.

At least 733 people who had come in contact with them have been tracked, the collector said and have been placed under observation. While 18 have been admitted to isolation wards in hospital the remaining are under home surveillance.

A two-year-old child is among those under obsevation at the isolation ward, health department sources said. The tracking excercise would continue on Wednesday also.

Meanwhile, an awareness class was held for migrant workers at Pathnamthitta district this morning. However, no directions have been issued to workers fromother states to leave the state. "We are planning to give extra care to migrant workerswith labour officer visiting their colonies and as part of theawareness drive and speaking to them in a language theyunderstand," he said.

A three-year-old boy, who arrived with his parents in Kochi from Italy, tested positive on Monday, a day after three people, also with travel history from the European nation,were declared positive for the virus along with two of their relatives.

The Health Minister has said surveillance system would be stregthened with the support of ASHA workers, civic authorities and ward members and resident associations. Presently, 1,116 people are under surveillance in thestate for the corona virus, 967 in home quarantine and 149 in isolation wards of hospitals. Two 90-year-old relatives of the Pathnamthitta family, who tested positive, have been admitted to Kottayam medicalcollege hospital and their samples have been sent for testing, she said. "If they test positive for the virus, it would be highlyrisky", she had said.

Mangaluru, Mar 30: Police on Monday registered a case against a man, who, after return from Dubai, had failed to adhere to lockdown guidelines of house quarantine.

The case was filed by Assistant Commissioner, Puttur, Dr Yathish Ullal.

The man, who returned from Dubai on March 21, had a seal on his hand and was supposed to stay at home for 14 days, but was seen roaming around the city, hence he was taken into custody and a case registered.

Udupi, Mar 14: Amidst growing Coronavirus scare, a youth with suspected Coronavirus symptoms was admitted to Udupi District Hospital here, District Health and Family Welfare Officer Sudhir Chandrachud said.

According to him, A 37-year-old youth, a native of Shirwa, who works in a Japanese ship and was onboard a Japanese vessel that was recently blocked due to the coronavirus. However, he was left out on its way to Dubai, where he was diagnosed with coronavirus infection and he returned to his native.

However, he did not show any of the primary symptoms of coronavirus, such as cough, cold, fever, but he was suffering from diarrhea and abdominal pain with slight respiratory problems following which he has been admitted to an isolated ward in the district hospital here on Friday evening.