NH 73 made 1-Way Opp to Sealed Down First Neuro Hospital after 2nd COVID Death in DK
Mangaluru: Just as citizens of Dakshina Kannada and Mangaluru were anticipating a relaxed lockdown from 23 April, but all their anticipation and anxiousness to look forward for a relaxed lockdown was nullified and in vain, due to the second death of a 75-year-old woman, who died to COVID-19 at District Wenlock COVID Hospital this evening around 5 pm or so. Since the deceased woman was taking treatment for stroke ailment at First Neuro Hospital, located near Padil in Kannur Village, before her being shifted to Wenlock hospital yesterday, the district disaster management authority, under the National Disaster Management Act (NDMA) 2005 and in exercise of the powers conferred under section 26, 30 and 34 of NDMA 2005, issued under epidemic disease act 1987 by the state government has declared the area of First Neuro Hospital Kannur Village Padil Mangaluru as an active containment zone for patient no 432 ( the 75-year-old woman, now deceased ) who was a COVID-19 positive.
As per sources the 75-year-old woman, who happens to be the mother-in-law of the 50-year-old lady, hailing from Bantwal taluk who died recently, (Ref: DK Reports 1st COVID-19 Death of 50-year-old Woman ) was admitted to First Neuro Hospital a few weeks ago, for her treatment of stroke ailment. It is also learnt now that her daughter-in-law had visited her mother-in-law at the First Neuro, a couple of times. When the hospital staff suspected that the 75-year-old lady might be infected with COVID-19, they quickly shifted her to Wenlock hospital on 22 April, and she was kept under observation- and her swab that was sent for testing proved positive for COVID-19. And unfortunately, the elderly woman died this evening (23 April) of Coronavirus.
And since this deceased woman was admitted to First Neuro Hospital and was there for few weeks, and now that she died of COVID-19, the district admin and other authorities have now sealed down First Neuro Hospital, and its surrounding areas. The containment zone includes two residential houses, five shops, and the total population of the area is 16. Further, the buffer zone is extended to an area of 5 km around this containment zone bound by- No of residential houses = 41,900; No of Shops/offices = 1808, and the Total population being 1,82500.
The initiative for implementation of Containment Zone was done by DC Sindhu Rupesh to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 in the surrounding vicinity of the FN Hospital. Tahsildar and Taluk Magistrate Mangaluru Taluk has been appointed as the incident commander who will be overall in-charge of the containment zone, who will take necessary actions as specified in the containment zone notification referred above.
The official memorandum circulated by the DC states, “As the COVID-19 is spreading quickly in the entire state of Karnataka and has a high prevalence in the district, to contain the spread of this disease and to provide proper treatment as per WHO guidelines, central and state government guidelines, circulars for all suspect and positive cases, it is necessary to make an effective plan to facilitate for mitigation of the threatening disaster function. To contain the spread of this disease various facilities were taken as required by the state COVID-19 contingency plan. Finally, the First Neuro Hospital, a private health facility located at Kannur village Padil is selected as the supervised isolation centre for Dakshina Kannada district.”
“The name of the nodal medical officer is Dr. Rajesh Shetty. Patient number 432, who has tested positive for COVID-19 was earlier admitted to this hospital. All the boundaries around the hospital are considered as containment area and strict lockdown rules are implemented. The boundaries of containment zone include Kannada Gudde, MCC road on the East, Ramanatha Kripa Rice Mill on the West, Bengaluru -Mangaluru National highway 73 on the North and government gutter on the South. Further, a buffer zone of five km around the containment zone is also marked with strict seal down rules. This has Kallapu as the boundary on the east, Kudupu on the West, Farangipete on the North, and Falnir on the South. This includes 41,900 residential houses, 1,808 shops with a total population of 1,82,500” adds the circular.
This evening the cops and the local residents (volunteers) under the supervision of ACP (Traffic) Manjunath Shetty, and Traffic Circle Inspector South Gurudutt Kamath were busy placing barricades and tying tapes, to make the NH 73 opposite to First Neuro Hospital as one-way for traffic plying on this suppose to be Busy Highway. Speaking to Team Mangalorean CI Gurudutt Kamath said, “We are taking all precautions so that people won’t come closer to this hospital. All the inner roads surrounding the First Neuro Hospital have also been barricaded with the help of the locals. Precautions are very much needed during such situations, and our department is doing its best. We humbly request the citizens to stay at home and be safe, and not roam around on two-wheelers and cars unnecessarily and get booked by us for violations”.
