With 2,81,061 active cases Karnataka decided to opt for lockdown from yesterday to tackle the surge in the Covid-19 pandemic in the State.
This lockdown was announced by the Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa for the entire State including Bengaluru on Monday. The period of lockdown was for 14 days. The Government has also decided to vaccinate people between 18 and 45 years free.
The CM addressing the media said: “We have come to a decision after speaking to all ministers and experts.” During the lockdown, to ensure that people don’t face any hardship, shops and stores selling essential goods will open from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.
“In government hospitals, vaccination will be free for people between 18-45 years. For those above 45 years, the Union Government will provide vaccination free," said the Chief Minister.
The State assured the people that life saving oxygen will not be short supply as the Centre had agreed to increase supply from 300 MT to 800 MT.
To enforce the lockdown, all public transport including the road transport corporation and Bengaluru Metro will not operate. Those taxis, auto rickshaws and cab aggregators, hired for emergency or essential services are allowed. This includes going to the vaccination centres also. Flights and trains are allowed to operate and thus taxis and cabs ferrying passengers for these will be allowed.
Stores and shops selling food, groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy and milk booths, meat and fish, and animal fodder are being allowed to open from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. while the Public Distribution System (PDS) shops to remain open. In order to check movement of people, the State has allowed home delivery 24×7.
Banks, insurance offices and ATMs, and print and electronic media are allowed to function.
The number of people for social gatherings like marriages has been restricted to 50 while for cremations and funerals it is five. People attending these gatherings will have to follow the Covid-19 related protocols.
Educational institutions like schools, colleges, educational and coaching institutions are closed while online learning is allowed. Students going for examinations will be allowed to travel provided they have a valid admission ticket.
All forms of entertainment have been barred. Thus all cinema halls, shopping malls, gymnasiums, sports complexes, stadia, swimming pools, entertainment parks, clubs, theatres, bars and auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places will remain closed.
