While continuing the current lockdown restrictions in 11 districts that have high positivity rate for COVID-19, the Karnataka government on Thursday modified some of the restrictions imposed in other districts, including Bengaluru, from June 14 to 21.
However, the COVID night curfew will be imposed from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. in all districts which have lockdown relaxations. The weekend curfew would also come into effect from 7 p.m. on Friday to 5 a.m. on Monday in all districts which have lockdown relaxation.
The current lockdown restrictions would continue for one more week from June 14 to 6 a.m. on June 21 in 11 districts: Chickmagalur, Shivamogga, Davanagere, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada, Bengaluru Rural, Mandya, Belagavi, and Kodagu. This was announced by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa after a high-level meeting with ministers and officials.
More shopping hours
Based on the Technical Advisory Committee’s suggestions, the Chief Minister said, the lockdown restrictions have been relaxed in 20 districts. All shops delivering essential goods and services such as food stuff, medicine, milk, fruits and vegetables would remain open for four more hours -- from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. -- in these districts. All street vendors would be allowed to sell from 6 am to 2 pm, from Monday.
All industries and manufacturing units would be allowed to open with 50% staff while garment industries would be permitted to open with 30% staff. All taxis and auto rickshaws would be allowed to operate with only two passengers. Construction activities would be permitted and all shops related to construction work such as cement and steel would remain open.
Morning walk
For the benefit of morning walkers, all parks in Bengaluru and other 19 districts would be allowed to open from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. No public transport would be allowed till June 21. However, inter-district and inter-state movement would be allowed.
Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister held a video-conference with district commissioners of eight districts with high COVID-19 cases. On an average Chikmagalur district reported a 25.17 % positivity rate in the first week of June, while Mysuru recorded 22%.
The Chief Minister directed deputy commissioners to intensify the vaccination drive in their districts, especially in Belagavi, to contain the spread of the pandemic. The intensity of pandemic has come down due to the stringent measures adopted by the government during lockdown, but positive cases are not decreasing in some districts, Mr. Yediyurappa said.
