Udupi, UK dist admin urges govt to allow COVID-19 tests at Manipal

Udupi: The district administrations of Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts have appealed to the State government to request Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to allow COVID-19 tests at Manipal’s Kasturba Hospital.

Kasturba Hospital was granted approval by the ICMR to conduct tests on samples to detect the novel coronavirus on March 24, however it rescinded it later.

Udupi district Deputy Commissioner (DC) G Jagadeesha stated that the Council did not provide any reason for the cancellation of approval; his office has requested the Chief Secretary to pressurise the Council in granting approval again.

Uttara Kannada DC expressed that they have to be anxious till the test results arrive from Shivamogga which is 178 kilometres away, while a laboratory at Manipal, 91 kilometres away, will drastically reduce the time required in knowing the results of and reacting on tested samples.

Bhatkal in Uttara Kannada has become a COVID-19 cluster with 8 positive cases in the district.

From April 7, Wenlock hospital in Mangaluru has started testing samples of COVID-19 suspects and is the only such facility in entire coastal Karnataka.