Karwar: Deputy Commissioner K Harishkumar directed officers concerned to be alert and take all precautionary measures to check Coronavirus even if no cases had been recorded in Uttara Kannada district until now.

Speaking at an inter-departmental coordination committee meeting in Karwar, Harishkumar said that it was better to take precautionary steps to check the spread of the virus rather than taking steps after an outbreak. “Wuhan in China has been an epicentre of the nCoronavirus. So, all foreigners coming to the Tibetan Colony in Mundgod are being subjected to medical tests. This is just to make sure that the virus does not enter the district,” he said.

“If tourists coming from other districts or States suffer cold, cough, respiratory problem, high fever or diarrhoea symptoms, they must immediately seek treatment. No scope must be provided for rumours to spread. The isolation ward set up at the district hospital must be clean,” he directed.

ZP CEO Mohammad Roshan said that as there were several ports in the district, foreign ships carrying cargo come to the district. There was a possibility of the virus spreading through those working in those ships. Therefore, Port officials must be cautious and seek the cooperation of doctors to check the spread of nCoronavirus.

District Health Officer G N Ashokkumar and others were present.