JOIN USKarnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka dismisses speculations, says no plans for coronavirus lockdown in Bengaluru
The state government on Thursday decided against locking down Bengaluru to counter the surge in Covid-19 cases, but warned citizens to cooperate if they didn’t want the return of restrictions.
“Let me make it clear: There is no lockdown in Bengaluru,” Revenue Minister R Ashoka said after an emergency meeting chaired by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa to review the Covid-19 situation in the state capital.
Authorities will only delineate containment zones — in localities with a high caseload — in Bengaluru to curb the spread of the virus. Measures are also being taken to ensure that such localities return to normalcy soon, he said.
Ashoka said there were varied opinions, but most of the daily wage labourers did not want another lockdown as it would hit their livelihoods again.
Earlier in the day, Yediyurappa said strict regulations will be enforced in Bengaluru, while seeking public cooperation.
“You have been allowed to move about freely, but because social distancing is not being maintained, especially in slums, this problem arose. If you don’t want Bengaluru to be sealed down again, you must cooperate,” the CM said.
In response to complaints that patients are made to wait after testing positive, the government has decided to deploy 100 additional ambulances.
“This works out to one ambulance for every two wards,” Ashoka said.
“The government has also taken steps to ensure that 5,000 of the 10,000 beds in medical colleges and hospitals in Bengaluru are set aside for Covid-19. Instructions have been sent to such hospitals and colleges in the city.”
In order to address complaints over the availability of beds, the government has appointed IAS officer Tushar Girinath to monitor this. A real-time bed availability dashboard will come up to assist patients, Ashoka said.
On Friday, Yediyurappa has convened a meeting of all Bengaluru MLAs and ministers to discuss the Covid-19 situation.