Chamarajanagar: Chamarajanagar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dr. M.R. Ravi has instructed the team comprising Health Department staff, ASHA and Anganwadi workers to conduct survey and trace all symptomatic individuals with cough, cold, sore throat and fever in rural areas of the district.

Presiding over a meeting at DC Office Auditorium here on Saturday with Health Department staff and Nodal Officers appointed to monitor the pandemic spread in the district, Dr. Ravi said, “According to reports, the infection is spreading at a faster rate in rural areas. We need to detect positive cases at the initial stage itself, which would help reduce the fatality. People with Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) are more likely to test positive for COVID-19.”

“The team comprising Health Department staff, ASHA and Anganwadi workers would trace symptomatic persons in rural areas. All primary contacts should compulsorily undergo COVID test. In particular, we need to monitor senior citizens and persons with underlying co-morbid medical conditions. If 10 or more cases are detected in a particular area, we need to demark the area as containment zone. This would help stamp and isolate the infected persons as well as confine them in an effective way. All symptomatic visitors to the district should be tested and if tested positive should be admitted to COVID Care Centres or hospitals as per doctor’s advice,” he said.

ZP Chief Executive Officer Harshal Bhoyal also addressed the meeting. Medical College Dean Dr. Sanjeev, Nodal Officers including Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) Santosh Kumar, DCF Yedukondalu, District Surveillance Officer Dr. Nagaraju, RCH Officer Dr. Vishweshwariah, Dr. Mahadevu, Tahasildars Chidananda Guruswamy, Ravishankar, Nagaraju, K. Kunal, Jayaprakash, Taluk Panchayat Executive Officer Umesh, Salem Husain, Srikanteraje Urs, Taluk Health Officers Dr. Srinivas, Dr. Ravindra, Dr. Manjunath and others were present.