Karwar: The number of Covid cases is rapidly increasing in Uttara Kannada district. With a large number of students contracting the infection, a total of 25 schools have been shut down as a precautionary measure to prevent the further spread of the pandemic, said Deputy Commissioner Mullai Mugilan.

Speaking to media persons here on Thursday, he said, Covid clusters are being identified across the district. On Thursday, clusters were marked at 10 different places and schools coming under these clusters have been asked either to conduct online classes or to announce holidays for a week.

More than five students from four schools in Dandeli, three in Honnavar, and one each school from Yellapur, Sirsi, and Kumta tested positive for the infection. As Dandeli is reporting more cases in recent days, the guidelines which are being followed in Karwar City and Honnavar town would also be imposed in the limits of Dandeli City Municipal Council too, he added.

All the primary schools (first to the eighth standard) in Dandeli have been directed either to declare holiday for schools till January 25 or to conduct online classes. High schools, pre-university and degree colleges have been asked to conduct classes with 50% occupancy at once, he informed.

Micro containment zones

The deputy commissioner also said that a total of 39 micro containment zones (20 in Karwar City) have been identified across the district. The active cases include 554 people within 18 years of age and 508 above 18 years of age.

However, the number of people getting admitted to the hospital is very less. At present, 129 people are undergoing treatment at the hospitals in Naval Base, Joida, and Dandeli hospitals. However, none of them is on a ventilator, he informed.

Alternative measure

Mugilan said, separate teams of doctors have been formed to treat Covid patients. Members of these teams will be deputed in case any doctor or staff nurse of any hospital, especially Covid Care Centres, contract the infection.

Vaccination

Speaking on vaccination in the district, the deputy commissioner said, till now, 11.28 lakh (98%) people have received the first dose of the vaccine and 9.17 lakh (80%) have got their second doses. A total of 11,883 people have received the booster dose. The vaccination rate among children between the age of 15 to 17 years is 82%. However, the percentage of vaccination is low in Bhatkal, Joida, Haliyal, and Yellapur. Measures would be taken to reach the target in these taluks too, he added.

Additional Deputy Commissioner H K Krishnamurthy, District Health Officer Sharad Nayak, Reproductive & Child Health officer Ramesh Rao, and others were present.

Schools converted into clusters

Following the increasing cases of Covid among the students, various clusters have been formed in the district. The schools which have been converted into clusters are Mother Teresa High School in Yellapur, S H Sorgavi International School in Dandeli, Government Higher Primary Kannada School at B C Colony in Dandeli, Government Primary School Audit No-2 in Dandeli, Janata Vidyalaya High School in Dandeli, Marikamba High School at Sirsi, Holy Rosary Convent High School in Honnavar, Government High School at Idagunji, Government High School at Hodkeshirur in Honnavar, and Karnataka Public High School at Santeguli in Kumta.