Kasaragod opens RT-PCR centre at Talapady border

MANGALURU: With hundreds of people from Kasaragod and other northern districts of Kerala denied entry into Dakshina Kannada without RT-PCR negative report, the Kasaragod district administration has come forward with a solution to support inter-state commuters.
The Kasaragod district administration has made arrangements through a private lab to open a mobile testing facility at Talapady. A Kasaragod district information department official told TOI the lab was opened at Talapady on Tuesday for the convenience of people from Kasaragod and other districts of Kerala who are in dire need to visit Dakshina Kannada.
The mobile RT-PCR testing unit stationed at the Kerala – Karnataka border in Talapady will conduct tests free of costs for people of Kerala. The lab will provide a report at the earliest and those who test negative may proceed to Dakshina Kannada with the report, the official said.
While the Covid-19 positivity rate of Kasaragod district was 11.8% on Monday, it was 3.6% in Dakshina Kannada. The number of cases is also high in Kasaragod compared to Dakshina Kannada. Hence, Dakshina Kannada district administration has made RT-PCR negative certificate mandatory for all to enter the district based on Karnataka government’s directions.
Only students and those travelling for emergencies are allowed to enter Karnataka without RT-PCR negative reports. Initially, Dakshina Kannada health department was conducting RT-PCR tests for interstate commuters from Kerala at Talapady. However, from Tuesday, the testing centre stopped functioning putting the onus on the Kasaragod district administration to make necessary arrangements.
Karnataka ADGP (Law & Order) CH Pratap Reddy, who visited Talapady on Tuesday, said there will be no RT-PCR centres at interstate borders. “The district administrations of Kasaragod and other interstate border districts of Kerala have been asked to make necessary arrangements for their citizens. We have directed them to advise people to travel to Karnataka with the RT-PCR negative report. It is the responsibility of the administrations and police in neighbouring districts to make necessary arrangements,” Reddy said.