Mysore/Mysuru: District Minister S.T. Somashekar, after hearing the Legislators on shortage of drugs, came down heavily on the DHO. Asking the DHO to shun laxity and to work more harder, he questioned Dr. Amarnath why he had mislead him on medicine stocks each time he toured the district. Pointing at the DHO, Somashekar questioned him what he was unable to answer the Legislators who highlighted shortage of medicines in the district.

Asserting that it was his (Somashekar) responsibility to ensure that funds are released for procurement of drugs, he reiterated that Health Department officials should work with responsibility and with total commitment and determination  for bringing down COVID caseload in the district.

After the District Minister admonished the DHO, MLA Ramdas said now that the Government has given a free hand to the District Administration, the authorities must act fast for procurement of stock of drugs for the entire district, sufficient for at least a month.

‘No need for lockdown extension in Mysuru beyond June 7’

Commenting on the lockdown issue, District Minister Somashekar said that he was personally not for extension of the current lockdown beyond June 7. Pointing out that he will give the same opinion to the CM if he asked him, Somashekar said that it is almost two months since the enforcement of Janata Curfew and the subsequent lockdown.

Highlighting that problems would become far more bigger if the lockdown is further extended, he opined that with dwindling COVID cases, there was no need for lockdown extension beyond June 7. However, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa will take a decision in this regard after consulting all his Cabinet colleagues, he added.

Stating that he has taken stock of COVID management in all the 11 Assembly segments of the district through respective MLAs, he said that 70 percent of the door-to-door survey on COVID testing has been completed so far and full completion is expected in a couple of days. ASHA workers and other health workers are visiting all houses for checking COVID symptoms among the residents, he added.