Covid-19: Karnataka's Udupi district struggles as more than 60% samples untested

MANGALURU: Once a green zone, Udupi district has seen a sudden massive spurt in cases that has left authorities scrambling. As on Friday, Udupi had 164 cases, but that could just be the tip of the proverbial iceberg since 6,019 swab samples were pending testing.

Until Friday, a total 10,969 samples were collected, but only 4,950 or 40% have been processed.

But a health officer said, “Udupi has collected more samples than neighbouring Dakshina Kannada district (8,856). Samples have piled up after the influx of people from other states and Dubai.”


Sudhir Chandra Sooda, district health officer (DHO), Udupi, admitted tough days were ahead for the district administration. Currently samples are being tested at KMC, Manipal (Udupi), Shivamogga and Dakshina Kannada. “When people from other states started to arrive, health workers collected as many as 1,500 samples a day on some days. We are hopeful all samples will be cleared within the next few days,” Sooda said.

But the backlog is likely to persist. Even if all six labs in undivided Dakshina Kannada and the one in Shivamogga test only samples from Udupi round the clock, they can only clear about 700-800 samples per day.

“The cases in Udupi shot up after an influx from Maharashtra and Dubai,” Sooda said. “So far 8,191 people have arrived from Maharashtra alone.”

Set to be discarded

G Jagadeesha, district deputy commissioner, said the administration will follow the latest government protocol and test only samples of category A and B people.

“We stopped collecting samples from category C and D people a few days ago,” he said. Asked what the administration intends to do with samples that have already been collected, Jagadeesha said except category A and B samples, the others will all be discarded.

‘Will clear backlog’

Meanwhile, Sindhu B Rupesh, deputy commissioner, Dakshina Kannada district, said she is confident all pending samples collected in the district will be processed within the next two days. As on Friday, Dakshina Kannada district had collected 8,856 samples of which 8,263 had been processed.

“The remaining 593 samples will tested soon and results will be declared in two days. Labs, including private ones, are working round the clock,” Rupesh said.

Brothers barred from entering their house

Two siblings have not been allowed to enter their house even after completing 14 days of quarantine. They are spending time at a bus stop at Udupi. Vishwu Shetty Ambalapady, a social worker, said the duo had not got their second Covid-19 test report and as per the governments’ new guidelines they were sent home for home quarantine. However, their neighbours and relatives insisted that the duo get the second report. “The brothers came to Udupi from another district 14 days ago. Although they were advised home quarantine, they had to opt for institutional quarantine owing to objection from public. Though their swabs were taken, the report was not received, and doctors sent them home,” he added. Shetty said the health department/ administration should provide public with the correct information and help quarantined person to have a healthy life. The public also needs to have patience and act wisely” he added.