Dakshina Kannada to resume COVID testing at Karnataka-Kerala border checkpost

Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada district administration will resume Covid testing at Talapady Checkpost from Monday to conduct RT-PCR test of those coming to the district from Kerala without Covid negative report.

In a circular issued on Sunday, the Karnataka government has made Covid negative report mandatory for all those coming from Kerala.

Talapady Checkpost on NH 66 is the main connecting point between Kerala’s Kasargod and Mangaluru. Hundreds of vehicles take this route every day.

Dakshina Kannada has maintained the Covid positivity rate below 0.50 percent in the last few days. The state government has now decided to take extra measures to ensure Covid does not spread from those coming from other states, especially Maharashtra and Kerala.

The Dakshina Kannada district administration had opened a Covid testing point at the border when the number of cases was high in Kerala during the second wave. But it was shut later after the cases decreased. Now again the testing point will resume on Monday.

The testing point would operate in three shifts round the clock. Those who come from Kerala without Covid negative certificate will have to undergo RT-PCR testing here.

The health department will also take help from the private medical colleges for this.

The district administration will also decide on the measures to be taken at the other entry points.