In a U-turn, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa on Saturday reversed the decision to allow movement of two-wheelers in the state amid ongoing lockdown imposed to curb COVID-19. The CM shared this in a tweet late in the evening. However, moments of essential supplies including goods vehicles will be allowed to move out the containment zones after April 20.
Earlier, it was decided that the movement of two-wheelers would also be allowed in a restricted manner, but that government today made it clear that no such plan has been decided as for now.
The CM took the decision at a meeting attended by senior-level ministers to review the situation in the state in wake of lockdown imposed due to COVID-19 and the steps need to be taken after April 20. Even though the lockdown will remain in place till May 3 as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, certain essential services will be allowed to run the business with limited staff.
Containment Zones
The government has identified containment zone-areas where cases of COVID-19 have been reported under 28-days-where strict restriction would be followed and the area would remain sealed. However, the non-containment zone will see the limited movement of goods vehicles.
"We have decided to appoint an incident commander for each containment zone who will be assisted by police and health officials. They will be responsible for crowd movement and providing basic amenities in these areas. Incident commander will have magisterial power," Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said on Saturday.
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Why U-turn?
Before this revised decision, there had been reports of government allowing free movement of two-wheelers, and letting 50 percent, which later changed to 33 percent, of IT/BT sector workforce to work from office after April 20. However, as per the new guidelines issued by the government, all IT/BT employees have been asked to continue to work from home.
These revisions have been attributed to some conflicts and confusion between the chief minister and the Deputy chief minister in sharing the information.
COVID-19 cases in the state
As on Saturday, 384 positive cases of coronavirus have been reported in the state, including 14 deaths and 94 recoveries. Bangalore Urban and Mysuru have reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the state with 99 and 79 confirmed cases respectively.
These eight districts in the state have been identified as COVID-19 hotspot- Eight districts in Karnataka - Bengaluru Urban, Mysuru, Belagavi, Dakshina Kannada, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Bagalkote and Dharwad.
While the numbers of total COVID-19 have increased, the daily count of patients has gone down. On Friday it was 44, and on Saturday it came down to 12.
Strict measures to curb COVID-19
In order to contain the disease, the government has implemented strict measures. Besides following the nationwide lockdown, the state has made it mandatory for all to wear masks when going out in the public like bank or grocery shops.
People living in the confinement zone have been strictly ordered to remain inside the home and essential items would be supplied to their home.
However, there has been some news of lockdown violations in the state to which the CM said that he has asked district commissioners to be more strict in making people comply with the lockdown order.
"Complaints of lockdown violations are increasing. I have asked them to be more strict and keep the lockdown until April 20. In those places which have been listed as places with COVID-19 cases with containment zones, people should not even be stepping out of their homes. Even if they need essential commodities, we will bring it to their homes. From now on, we will be very strict and not issue any more passes. However, after 20 April, we will ease restrictions in non-containment zones," The Newsminute reported CM as saying.
On Saturday, police arrested two Vietnamese nationals for spitting in a lift of a building in Mangaluru in Karnataka. The foreign nationals were under home quarantine in Kodailbail. It was when People staying in the apartment noticed that someone had spit on the phone panel in the elevator, they complained about the matter. The police investigated the matter and arrested the two.
