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Mangaluru, May 23: Criticising the Karnataka government's fresh protocol for management of Covid-19 as expensive, a prominent physician in the city has demanded its withdrawal.

According to Dr B Srinivas Kakkilaya, the protocol released by the Health and Family Welfare Department on May 15 enlists unnecessary and unconfirmed tests and treatments. 

The protocol has classified Covid-19 cases into three categories and has provided for hospitalisation of all three categories of patients, from asymptomatic to the most severely ill.

In a letter to the government, Dr Kakkilaya said: "The protocol suggests several investigations to be done right on the day of admission, including blood counts, liver and renal function tests, chest X Ray, ECG, CT scan of the chest, and other special investigations, all of which, if done, will cost Rs 25,000 per patient."

"In the coming days when lakhs of patients are likely to be infected with SARS CoV2, is it necessary and feasible to hospitalise and test all these patients at Rs 25,000 per person," he questioned.

The treatment options suggested in the protocol are also surprising, he pointed out. "The protocol recommends choloroquine, azithromycin, oseltamivir, zinc and vitamin C for all patients, from asymptomatic to the severely ill, and also anti coagulant injections for many patients. All these would cost at least Rs 5,000 per patient. For severe cases of Covid-19, many unproven and experimental treatments have been suggested, which are very expensive and highly questionable," Dr Kakkilaya notes.

Therefore, this protocol, he asserted was not evidence based and likely to do more harm than good. He said these unnecessarily expensive tests and allowing private companies to conduct trials on Covid-19 patients is likely to be misused by vested interests and must be immediately withdrawn, and instead, a protocol that is evidence-based, simple and avoiding unnecessary expenses, must be developed.

Mangaluru, Jan 23: Veekshitha Arasa, an officially certified Zumba instructor is all set to present Zumba fitness on the Beach to the people of Mangalore on January 26, 2020. The Zumba event will be hosted at Panambur Beach on Republic Day (Sunday) from 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. Entry is free to the public and there are no tickets.

Veekshitha Arasa will be accompanied by some of the immensely talented Zumba Instructors from Bangalore who have been passionately spreading love for Zumba through their classes and events. Some amazing instructors from Mangalore too will be joining the event to make it even more happening.

With the sole aim to promote fitness among Mangaloreans these Zumba Instructors will make you groove to peppy, energetic numbers and make your evening sweat-blasting and fantastic.

The main presenter and host of this event Veekshitha hails basically from Mangalore. Having conducted Zumba training in various fitness centers and corporates across Bangalore and being the presenter in several mega events both in India and International Platforms in Hong Kong, Veekshitha always had a dream to have a full-fledged Zumba fitness event in her own city - Mangalore. The idea of having it by the beach side fascinated her even more and that’s how this event has been planned exclusively for the people of Mangalore right on the beach.

For all those who have been planning to start their fitness journey this might just be the beginning. Go join the Zumba party and shed some calories.

AJ Hospital & Research Centre, APD Foundation and SS Arrangers & Caterers are the sponsors for the event.