Now ‘free’ weekends in Dakshina Kannada

Mangaluru, Sept 12, 2021: It was a ‘free,’ weekend in Dakshina Kannada district. Three days ago the district administration had declared to withdraw weekend lockdown as Dakshina Kannada district is witnessing a fall in the number of cases and positivity rate.

While the shop owners were happy as they could up the shutters, people were relieved for being able to go to market place and shops for their weekly purchases.

“We have suffered due to Covid and the lockdown but managed to get business after that. The business is more during the weekend and due to the weekend curfew, we could not open the shops. Now the administration’s decision to withdraw the weekend curfew has come as a relief,” owner of the steel and metal shop near Mangaluru Central market told The Canara Post.

“Most of the people are vaccinated and follow Covid rules. The number of cases has also come down. The decision to withdraw weekend curfew is an appropriate one as it would help the people as well as the businessmen,” he added.

“While most of the materials we get online or purchase in the neighborhood shops there are some things which we need to go to the shop in the City and purchase them. Sometimes we need to go to 2-3 shops which we can do only during holidays. Due to the weekend curfew, we had postponed our purchase. Today we have come after a month,” Suresh K, an employee with a private company who had come for purchase at Hampankatta said.

But many still feel there is a need for some restrictions.

“The government should keep a tab on Covid appropriate behavior and fine those without a mask and those who do not follow social distancing. The fear of being fined for violations will work,” Shailaja, a housewife feels.