Mixed response to weekend curfew in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi

There was a mixed response to the weekend curfew in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts on Saturday with many shops, apart from milk vending, fruits, vegetable, meat, and grocery shops, remaining ope

There was a mixed response to the weekend curfew in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts on Saturday with many shops, apart from milk vending, fruits, vegetable, meat, and grocery shops, remaining open till 2 p.m. The schools and colleges, however, held online classes as directed the district administrations. While trade bodies and elected representatives are seeking relaxation of the weekend curfew in the two districts, Deputy Commissioners of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts K.V. Rajendra and Kurma Rao M. on Friday asked merchants to strictly comply with the norms or face penal action by the district administration. An audio conversation of a trade body representative with Dr. Rajendra went viral on social media where he is heard telling the former to have patience and comply with the norms for another week. “The positivity rate will certainly come down and we will seek removal of weekend curfew,” said Dr. Rajendra and added that officials are acting as per the directions of the State government. “If you (merchants) defy with the norms, we will be forced to take penal action,” he said.