(Image source from: outlookindia.com)

Karnataka government announces complete lockdown on Sundays starting July 5 to contain the spread of coronavirus. Night curfew will start from 8pm and end at 5 am.

The state government after a meeting with Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has taken a decision to reinforce strict lockdown on Sundays from July 5.

No activity would be allowed on Sundays except for essential services like medicines and groceries.

The government took this decision after the state’s capital Bengaluru has reported 595 new cases in a single day which is the biggest single day jump in the last three months.

The state has already started stricter night curfew since Monday, June 29. The timings of the curfew had also been changed from 9pm to 8 pm and ends at 5am in the morning.

All government offices across the state will observe a 5-day week working while Saturday will be considered a holiday.

The total number of COVID-19 positive cases in the state has crossed the 12000 mark and has reported over 110 deaths.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike commissioner has been advised by the government to set up more vegetable markets in the state to avoid panic buying and thronging of wholesale markets by the residents.

The Chief Minister has also advised the officials to increase the number of ambulances to carry critical coronavirus patients and also separate ambulances to carry mortal remains of patients.

He also recommended the officials to use police control room wireless system to track the locations easily for easy movement of ambulances.

It was also decided in the meeting that marriage halls, hostels and other large spaces will be utilized by the officials as COVID-19 care centres.

The government has also ordered the hospital authorities in the state to reserve 50% of the beds for coronavirus patients in the wake of surge in infections.

Update as on today:

In another recent meeting on Monday, the government has indicated that starting July 7, the state has decided to implement stringent lockdown measures including closing down of entry and exit gates for people from high risk districts and shutting down of parks and markets.

The state government has decided to temporarily shut parks, wholesale markets and temples for at least two weeks to avoid heavy gathering of people.

After the meeting, the revenue minister Ashoka has urged people to not panic in this grave situation and rush to hospitals. He said that war level health officers would first check the patient and if he is asymptomatic, he would be shifted to COVID care centre and if symptomatic, will be taken to the hospital.

By Gayatri Yellayi