HASSAN: Worried that an influx of returnees from Maharashtra would trigger a fullblown outbreak in
Channarayapatna, the Hassan district administration is ramping up measures to contain the spread of infections.
During the first wave too, returnees from Maharashtra, mostly youngsters who work in hotels and other sectors in Mumbai, had posed a huge problem for district officials as they pushed up the number of cases.
Naveen, who runs a hotel in Airoli, Mumbai, for the past 10 years, said he returned to attend the village festival in his hometown Shravanahalli in KR Pet taluk in
Mandya district. The village is just across the border with Channarayapatna taluk.
Naveen said when he reached Channarayapatna on February 23, health staff immediately collected swab samples. He said he didn’t receive any message on the results and returned to Mumbai on March 7.
Shivanna from Maniknahalli, Channarayapatna, who is employed in a hotel in Mumbai, said he returned in February with his wife and two children. “I came to attend a wedding and at that time Mumbai was normal. When we alighted at Channarayapatna, our nasal swab samples were taken and the results were negative,” Shivanna said.
Daily cases have been rising steadily since March 14 in Hassan district. It has reported less than 10 cases previously. On March 15, the district reported 16 cases, 14 on March 16 and 25 on March 17. On Thursday and Friday, it reported 29 and 33 fresh cases respectively. Active cases stand at 138.
“Since February 15, a total of 323 people have returned from Maharashtra. Most are from Channarayapatna. Of them, six tested positive,” said DHO Dr Sathish.