Karwar: Labour Minister Shivaram Hebbar directed the district administration to prohibit fairs as much as possible or postpone them in the wake of increasing Covid-19 cases across the district.

He noted this while speaking during a video conference held with the district-level officials to review Covid management in Karwar on Tuesday.

Hebbar said, if there is no possibility of postponing certain fairs, the district administration should allow gathering of only 10 to 20 people to perform the rituals.

Awareness should be created among religious leaders and people representatives on the prevailing Covid situation to ensure that people do not gather in large numbers at one place. 

Trade and commerce have been affected due to Covid. A decision would be taken in this regard within two days in the cabinet meeting. Measures would also be taken to ensure that people do not violate Covid-19 guidelines issued by the government, he added.

Vaccination rate

The vaccination rate is high in the district. However, there are complaints of some people, especially those from Bhatkal, not coming forward to get the vaccine doses. The officials concerned should convince them to get the vaccine and save their lives, he directed.

School closure

Deputy Commissioner Mullai Mugilan said, schools with more than five positive cases have been closed for a week. Nodal officers have been appointed to identify containment zones. Precautionary measures have been taken at all the anganwadi centres. Hostels and anganwadis are functional as the situation is under control, he added.

SP Suman Pannekar, Karwar Institute of Medical Sciences Director Gajanan Nayak, District Health and Family Welfare Officer Sharad Nayak were present.