Katagi Shahapur village becomes COVID free, imposes lockdown of its own

As the country fights the second wave of COVID-19, a village in Yadgir taluk has set an example in pandemic control by taking self-containment measures.

The villagers claim to have kept the pandemic at bay from the onset of the second wave, Katagi Shahapur has become COVID-free.

Dr. Ramakrishna Reddy, Medical Officer at the Hattikuni Primary Health Centre, covering Katagi Shahapur village informed that initially there were nine cases reported in Katagi Shahapur but no fresh cases have been reported from May 16.

The nine cases were reported when random RT-PCR testing was conducted on the villagers last month and it was found that all cases were asymptomatic in nature.

After a retest, the reports came negative on Sunday, May 16.

Dr. Ramakrishna informed that random RT-PCR testing will be conducted in the village after some days.

The villagers on the other hand countered his statement, asserting that “no cases were reported as the villagers are health conscious and have taken all precautionary measures right from the onset of the second wave.”

A local said that after witnessing the tales of people from Yadgir and other districts dying due to Covid and troubles in getting oxygen and Remdesivir, the elders of the village met last week.

In the meeting, it was decided to restrict people from entering or exiting the village. Except for lighting the lamp at village temples, the movement of people inside the village was curtailed.

Between last Friday and Tuesday, during day and night, villagers gave oil to light the lamp for five days.

Chennamallappa, Yadgir Tahsildar said that nobody forced the villagers to implement a lockdown but they themselves volunteered to take such strict measures.