Chief minister BS Yediyurappa announced lockdown-like restrictions in Karnataka on Friday, tightening curbs in the southern state from May 10 to May 24 in view of spiralling Covid-19 cases.
There was already a curfew in place in the state from April 27, which was to end on May 12. “The second wave of Covid-19 is creating havoc as the corona curfew imposed in the state has not yielded the expected result in reducing the infection and death rate,” the CM said. “Therefore, the government has decided to impose a stringent measure to check the spread of the disease and death. Restrictions will be imposed in the entire state from 6 am on May 10 to 6 am on May 24,” he added.
All shops and commercial establishments, hotels, pubs and bars will remain closed during this period, Yediyurappa said. Essential goods and services like food, medicine, milk, fruits and vegetables will be available from 6 am to 10 am, he added, after meeting with his cabinet colleagues.
Yediyurappa said that nobody will be allowed to come out on streets after 10 am. “We will initiate stringent action on those who violate lockdown measures,” he added.
“I appeal to all labourers not to leave Bengaluru… instead they will be allowed to work at construction sites,” he said.
Karnataka reported on Friday 48,781 fresh Covid-19 infections, while the fatality hit 17,804 with 592 new deaths. According to the department bulletin, the total positive cases stood at 18,38,885, whereas there were 5,36,641 active cases in the state.
The highest single day count of 592 Covid-19 deaths in Karnataka on Friday showed that clamping curfews was not effective and result-oriented steps like a complete 14-day lockdown imposed at the start of the pandemic was necessary, health minister Dr K Sudhakar said.
“The deaths due to Covid have increased. The fatality rate percentage is 1.21 on Friday, which is 592 people, the highest so far,” he told reporters in Chikkaballapura. “If we have to break the chain of infection, then we have to initiate result-oriented measures like a 14-day lockdown imposed last year at the start of the pandemic,” he added.
STRINGENT CURBS
– Only flights and trains will continue to operate during this period. Flight and train tickets shall serve as the passes for movement of persons by personal vehicles/taxis/cab aggregators/autorickshaws to board flight and trains. Metro rail services prohibited.
– Taxis (including auto rickshaws) and services of cab aggregators, except while hired for emergency and as permitted in these guidelines.
– Schools, colleges, educational/coaching institutions etc. will remain closed. Online/ distance learning shall continue to be permitted and shall be encouraged.
– Hotels, restaurants, and hospitality services, except those meant for housing health/police/Government officials/ healthcare workers/stranded persons including tourists, quarantine facility and Step Down Hospitals. However, hotels, restaurants and eateries shall be permitted to operate kitchens for take away/home delivery of food items only. No vehicles will be allowed to be used by persons for taking parcels/takeaway. Only movement by walk is allowed for this purpose. However, hotels, restaurants and eateries can use vehicles for home delivery.
– All cinema halls, shopping malls, gymnasiums, sports complexes, stadia, playgrounds, swimming pools, parks, entertainment parks, clubs, theatres, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places.
– All social/political/sports/entertainment/academic/cultural/religious functions/other gatherings and large congregations.
– All religious places/ places of worship shall be closed for public.
– No movement of public or private buses or passenger vehicles except as permitted under these guidelines.
WHAT’S ALLOWED
– Inter-state and Intra-state movement of passenger vehicles, only in cases of emergencies or as permitted under these guidelines.
– Intra-district movement of passenger vehicles and buses only in emergency cases and strictly adhering to the prevailing SOPs/guidelines issued by Department of Health and Family Welfare.
– Shops dealing with food, groceries, fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, and animal fodder shall be allowed to function from 6 am to 1Oam. Public Distribution System shops are allowed. Take away only is allowed from Standalone liquor shops and outlets, from 6 am to 10am. Sale of vegetables and fruits through push carts is allowed from 6 am to 6 pm. Milk booths and Hopcom outlets are allowed from 6 am to 6 pm. Home delivery of essential items shall be
encouraged 24×7 to minimize movement of individuals outside their homes. Operations shall be subject to adhering to National Directives for Covid-19 management.
– Banks, insurance offices and ATM.
– Delivery of all items through e-commerce and home delivery.
– Works related to pre-monsoon preparation/road construction activity is permitted.
– Marriages already scheduled are permitted strictly adhering to Covid-19 appropriate behaviour with a maximum of 50 people.
– Cremation/funerals to be allowed with maximum of five people adhering to Covid-19 appropriate behaviour.
People have been also advised to ensure wearing face mask, maintaining hand hygiene and social distancing.
(With agency inputs)
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