After delaying the inevitable for days citing economic activities, the state government on Saturday announced a complete lockdown in Bengaluru Urban and Rural districts from 8 pm on July 14 to 5 am on July 22 to “break the Covid-19 chain” in Bengaluru, which recorded a new high of 1,533 cases on Saturday.
Following recommendations from experts and prolonged discussions with his Cabinet colleagues, especially ministers in charge of eight zones of Bengaluru, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa agreed to reintroduce complete lockdown yet again.
According to the state government, the complete lockdown will be strictly enforced in both the districts by sealing the borders and banning the entry and exit of people. However, Yediyurappa clarified that essential services including supply of milk, vegetables, fruits, medicines and groceries will continue uninterrupted. The CM also said that detailed guidelines pertaining to the lockdown will be released on Monday.
Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa ordering the reimposition of lockdown tweeted, "Considering the suggestions from experts to curb the increasing number of Covid cases, Government has decided to implement complete lockdown in Bengaluru Urban and Rural Districts for 7 days starting 8 PM on Tuesday, 14th July. Detailed guidelines will be released on Monday." The CM further clarified that all essential services including supply of milk, vegetables, fruits, medicines and groceries will continue uninterrupted. "I appeal to people to cooperate with the government, follow all guidelines, take all precautionary steps and help us contain the pandemic," BSY said.
Recommending the complete lockdown in Bengaluru which is reporting more than 1,000 cases on a daily basis, experts had cautioned the government that if the situation continues, Bengaluru is likely to go the New Delhi way. The experts, according to sources close to the CM, had recommended complete lockdown for at least one week “to break the chain of Covid-19 in Bengaluru and bring down the number of cases”.
Even as ministers were divided on the lockdown, a video of the CM reportedly discussing the lockdown with Chief Secretary T M Vijaybhaskar went viral on social media.
In less than a few minutes of his discussion with the Chief Secretary, Yediyurappa tweeted, “Considering the suggestions from experts to curb the increasing number of Covid cases, Government has decided to implement complete lockdown in Bengaluru Urban and Rural Districts for seven days starting 8 pm on Tuesday, 14th July.”
Expressing hope that the reintroduction of lockdown will help the government contain the spread of Covid-19, Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar, said, “We have already seen that Covid-19 cases were well under control all through the lockdown. The numbers spiralled only after relaxing the lockdown rules. It is proven without doubt that the lockdown will help in reducing the number of cases.”
Asked whether the complete lockdown will be extended beyond seven days, Sudhakar said, “The infection is spreading fast and we have to wait and watch until the end of the lockdown.” Sources in the state government revealed to DH that, unlike the previous lockdowns, the ensuing lockdown will be strictly imposed keeping in mind the seriousness of Covid-19 scenario across Bengaluru.
Earlier in the day, several public and resident welfare associations from Bengaluru South, West and Eastern Bengaluru, where there has been a spurt in Covid-19 cases, had also appealed to the government to impose lockdown in Bengaluru.
Echoing the public sentiment, several corporators, especially from the central business district, had also personally appealed to the chief minister to order a lockdown in Bengaluru.
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