Semi-lockdown in Karnataka After Covid Surge till Jan 19

Following an unprecedented surge of Covid-19 cases in the state on Tuesday, the Karnataka government has imposed restrictions and issued new guidelines till January 19. In response to theworrisome surge, the state government has announced a weekend curfew and a two-week extension of the night curfew in Karnataka.

This comes in the wake of the state's fourth consecutive day of high infection rates, with 2,479 cases and four deaths reported on Tuesday. According to the health authorities, thisbrings the total number of cases and deaths to 30,13,326 and 38,355, respectively.

Since January 1, when the tally surpassed the 1,000 mark after a three-month hiatus, the state has seen an increase in new cases.

On Tuesday, Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar confirmed 149 new Omicron cases, bringing the total to 226. According to government data, the number of coronavirus patients had doubledin three days.

In the wake of a worrisome spike in Covid-19 cases in Bengaluru, he insisted on the need for precautionary measures. Dr Sudhakar predicted that the third wave of Covid-19 has arrived andthat the state capital will be in the epicentre of the latest outbreak.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai met with ministers, experts, and top authorities in Bengaluru to review the city's coronavirus situation, following which the new restrictionswere announced.

Karnataka new Covid guidelines

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• Classes from standards 1 to 9 have been suspended.

• During the week, pubs, bars, restaurants and theatres will operate at half-capacity.

• In all religious places and prayer halls, the number of devotees is limited to 50 at any given moment.

• The number of guests allowed at a wedding is limited to 100 in choultries, indoor venues, and 200 in outdoor locations.

• International passengers who test positive at airports will not be able to home quarantine. They will be sent to hospitals and hotels that have been designated by the government.

• Those who returned from Goa would be traced and tested again because the majority of Goa returnees test positive for Covid.

• For those travelling from the states of Goa, Maharashtra, and Kerala, the RT-PCR negative report is now mandatory. At the borders, there will be intensive surveillance.

• The government offices below the level of Under Secretary will work at 50% capacity and the Health Department will use the staff's services. Officers above the rank of Under Secretarywould be required to attend the offices fully.

• Infection rates have risen from 0.16 percent to 3.12 percent in the state. "Every 2-3 days, the infection doubles. It used to take roughly 8-15 days in the first and second waves. Thistime, we're seeing vertical growth in Covid cases," stated the state's health minister.

• Because Bengaluru is the epicentre of infections, the government has devised various measures to deal with the crisis in the capital and rest of the state.

• All schools and colleges in Bengaluru's urban district, except medical and paramedical, will be closed from January 6 except for classes 10, 11, and 12.

• There is no seva allowed in religious places and only darshan is permitted.

• Sports complexes and stadiums are permitted to operate at 50% capacity.

• Rallies and protests are all banned. If there are any violations, legal action will be taken under the Disaster Management Act and IPC sections.

• The weekend curfew will begin at 8 p.m. on Friday and end at 5 a.m. on Monday. During the weekend and night curfew, only essential and emergency activities are permitted.

• Curfew restrictions do not apply to any industry, including the IT industry.