Lockdown to continue in 11 districts of Karnataka

Bengaluru: The lockdown will continue in 11 districts which have a high positivity rate till June 21, while some relaxations will be given in the rest of the state from June 14, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa announced on Thursday.

He also said that the Covid curfew will be imposed from 7 pm to 5 am and weekend curfew will be imposed from 7 pm on Friday to 5 am on Monday, after the current lockdown in the state comes to end on June 14. "Current restrictions will continue in all eleven districts with high positivity rate till 6 am on June 21, in the rest of the districts some of the restrictions have been relaxed. However, the deputy commissioners concerned and district in-charge ministers can take a call to impose more restrictions in their districts," Yediyurappa said.

Speaking to reporters after meeting senior ministers and officials, he said the decision was taken based on suggestions made by the Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee, consisting of experts. "In districts with high positivity rate- Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, Davangere, Mysuru, Chamarajanagara, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada, Bengaluru Rural, Mandya, Belagavi and in Kodagu- there will be no changes in the current guidelines," he added. The relaxation in lockdown measures will be in place from 6 am on June 14 to 6 am on June 21.

Noting that restrictions are being relaxed in the rest of the state other than 11 districts, the Chief Minister said, all industries have been permitted to operate with 50 per cent staff strength, but garment industries can operate with 30 per cent staff strength. Shops selling essential goods have been permitted to operate till 2 pm by extending their duration from 10 am earlier; also all construction activities will be permitted, and shops needed for construction activities like cement, steel among others have also been allowed to open, he said.

Parks will be opened from 5 am to 10 am for walkers, street vendors can do their business from 6 am to 2 pm, and auto and taxis are allowed to ply with maximum two passengers, he added. If the situation comes under control as per the expectations it will help the government to announce further relaxations, Yediyurappa said as he sought the cooperation of everyone in this regard. Responding to a question on public transport buses and functioning of government officers, he said for now buses are not permitted to operate, while important departments of the government can operate with 50 per cent staff.

Hotels and restaurants will continue to do parcel service and bars will be open for takeaways till 2 pm. The government had initially announced 14 days 'close-down' from April 27, but subsequently imposed a complete lockdown from May 10 to May 24, as the Covid cases continued to spike. Citing lockdown yielding results and experts' advice, it was further extended till June 7 and then again till June 14.