The Government of Karnataka has issued a temporary regulation regarding Corona Virus (Covid-19) under the section 2, 3 and 4 of the Epidemic Disease Act 1897 (Central Act 3 of 1897 to prevent the outbreak of novel Covid-19 in the state. The issued short-term regulation will be called the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Covid-19 Regulations 2020, and will act up to 11th March, 2021.
As per the issued notification dated 11th March, 2020, the authorised person under this regulation is the director of health and family welfare services, director medical education at the state level and deputy commissioner, district health officer (DHO) and district surgeons (DS) in the districts, the taluka health officer at taluka level, in respect of BBMP, the chief health officer and officers as authorised by the Department of Health and Family Welfare.
The temporary regulation consists of the following points:
- All hospitals (government and private) in the state to have flu corners for the screening of Covid-19 suspected cases.
- During the screening of such cases, the suspect’s travel history and information on the people in contact with the suspect is also to be recorded.
- To avoid rumours and wrong information, no individual/institutions/organisation should use any medium of communication related to Covid-19 without prior permission of the Department of Health and Family Welfare.
No private laboratory has been authorised to conduct screening of Covid-19 in the State of Karnataka. All such samples shall be collected as per the guidelines of the Government of India and these shall be sent to the designated laboratory by the District Nodal Officer of the Department of Health and family Welfare of the concerned district.
The notification also mentions that any person/institution/organisation found violating any provision of these regulations shall be deemed to have committed an offence punishable under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860). Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department or Deputy Commissioner of District may penalise any person/institution/organisation if found violating provisions of these regulations or any further orders issued by Government under these regulations after giving him/her an opportunity to be heard.
Commenting on the notification, Dr Ajaikumar, Chairman and CEO, HealthCare Global Enterprises, said, “We at HCG maintain/ follow the given guidelines by the state government notification. In our hospital, we have kept beds ready for quarantining Covid-19 patients. However, we have not yet quarantined any of Covid-19 suspect in our hospital. We have also applied for Covid-19 testing, as our lab is already NABL accredited and we are waiting for the government to give us the go-ahead to conduct the Covid-19 test.”