Dakshina Kannada reports three COVID-19 cases, all patients discharged after recovery, says DHO

Dakshina Kannada reports three COVID-19 cases in May, all recovered; district health officer assures no need to panic.

Dakshina Kannada reported three COVID-19 positive cases in May, and all three patients, who were women (aged 64, 57, and 29), have recovered and been discharged, according to H.R. Thimmaiah, District Health and Family Welfare Officer.

Addressing the media persons here on Tuesday, he said that one of the patients was admitted to a hospital, and the other two received treatment at their homes.

Assuring that people need not panic about the spread of COVID-19, he said that people should not believe in rumours. Presently, COVID-19 is not a matter of serious concern in the district, he said.

Dr. Thimmaiah said that samples to confirm COVID-19 positive cases in the district will have to be tested only at the laboratory of Government Wenlock Hospital here. Laboratories at the private hospitals are not authorised to test the samples now. The government has given a clear instruction on the same. The sample test at the Wenlock Hospital began on Tuesday.

The DHO said that sample testing for COVID-19 will be done in all cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI). Random tests, up to 5%, will be done in Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) cases.

Dr. Thimmaiah said that the Health Department is prepared to face COVID-19 with the necessary facilities. It has 5,000 test kits, six liquid oxygen plants, 213 jumbo oxygen cylinders and other facilities like functional ICU beds, nebulisers and ventilators in addition to the 480 oxygenated beds at the Wenlock Hospital.