Madikeri: As the holiday season approaches, Kodagu, the picturesque district in Karnataka, is experiencing an unexpected surge in tourist arrivals for the celebration of New Year and Christmas. Amid the fear of Covid JN.1 variant the influx of visitors has raised concerns among the local residents about the potential health risks.
Safety protocols have been instituted by the district administration, which recently convened meetings with Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao. Health officials are actively conducting vehicle and passenger inspections at the Kodagu-Kerala border. Despite these efforts, there is a prevailing concern among locals that these measures might not be comprehensive enough to effectively contain the spread of the virus.
"I understand the economic importance of tourism for our region, but we cannot ignore the health risks associated with the current situation. Our healthcare infrastructure is limited, and an influx of tourists could strain our resources," said Priya Najappa, a resident of Madikeri.
Another concerned resident, Muthappa AK, from Gonikoppal echoed similar sentiments, saying, "The joy of celebrating festivals should not come at the cost of our community's well-being. We need to prioritize safety over economic gains during these challenging times. There is a lot of tourists coming from the last three days even though there was a huge traffic jam in Gonikoppal due to tourists."
Dr. Satish, the Health and Family Welfare Officer for Kodagu district, said that essential measures have been implemented to prevent the spread of Covid.
On Saturday, Gonikoppal experienced a huge traffic congestion as tourists from various districts headed to Kodagu. The resulting traffic jam caused inconvenience for the residents of Kodagu.
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