Pramesh S Jain. Yogesh K Porwar
Karnataka government has announced complete lockdown in the state for 14 days amidst rising COVID-19 cases with effect from April 27 to May 10. Only essential commodities will be available from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has also announced that the government will provide free vaccination for everyone above the age of 18.
Karnataka reported 34,804 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, pushing the overall tally to 1.3 million cases. The state ranks third among the country’s states worst hit by the second wave of COVID-19 infections. In terms of deaths due to the coronavirus,Karnataka is only second to Maharashtra.
Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa addressed a press conference after a high value cabinet meeting with all the cabinet ministers and announced the fresh curbs. It is to be noted that Karnataka on Sunday recorded 29,438 new cases.
Karnataka will go for a stringent closedown for two weeks from Tuesday night in view of the unprecedented surge in Covid cases.
Chief minister BS Yediyurappa announced new restrictions after the Cabinet meeting on Monday and said barring essential services, manufacturing and construction sector, everything will be shut till May 12th 6am.
Public and private transportation including buses, metro,taxi and auto services will not be allowed to operate.
Manufacturing units and industries except garment factories can function as usual.Medical and essential services will continue.
Restaurants can carry on with takeaways and parcel services,the chief minister said.
We have decided to postpone all upcoming elections.There won’t be any elections,at least for six months.This will be recommended to the Election Commission,”
Curfew will be in place as we have seen on weekends.No public transport will be allowed,and no individual movement will be strictly prohibited after 10am,everyday till 12th May 6am,CM Yediyurappa announced on Monday.
He said,The virus is spreading aggressively across the state.It’s worse than Maharashtra and Delhi.We will vaccinate people above the age of 18 years free of cost at government hospitals. Those above 45 years,the central government is anyway vaccinating them free of cost.
Speaking to reporters after a three hour long cabinet meeting here,he said shops selling essential commodities will be allowed to remain open only from 6 am to 10 am.
The Agriculture sector,manufacturing sector except garments,construction sector and medical and essential sectors will continue to operate,he said adding that Deputy Commissioners of all districts and Tahsildars have been instructed to take strict measures.
Yediyurappa said the cabinet took the decisions after consulting the expert committee.
On COVID vaccination,he said it will be given free of cost at government hospitals for those aged between 18 and 45 years.The health department will draw the guidelines required.
The CM clarified that there is no shortage of oxygen and said the Centre has increased the daily quota from 300 metric tonnes to 800 metric tonnes.
