No plan to extend lockdown in Bengaluru beyond July 22: CM

Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Monday made it clear that the government had no plans to extend the lockdown in Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural districts beyond July 22. Lockdown will come into force in the two districts starting 8 pm on July 14.

"There is no proposal before the government to extend the lockdown in Bengaluru Urban and Rural districts. The chief minister requests citizens not to panic and cooperate with the government without paying heed to rumours," the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said.

"The lockdown is being imposed to control the rising number of Covid-19 cases in these districts. The CM has instructed officials to make all arrangements in a week’s time and make ready whatever is necessary," the CMO said.

The clarification came after Yediyurappa chaired a meeting of the Covid-19 task force and amid reports that people were leaving the city in large numbers.

Yediyurappa also held a video conference with officials from all districts to review the Covid-19 situation, rainfall and irrigation measures.

During his video conference, Yediyurappa noted that the number of cases was on the rise in Bengaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Dharwad, Ballari, Udupi and Kalaburagi. He further noted that Covid-19 fatalities were going up in Bidar, Dharwad, Gadag and Mysuru. He asked authorities to bring this under control. "Bidar is among five districts nationally when it comes to deaths. This has to be controlled," Yediyurappa said, seeking a report by experts on this.

Yediyurappa told authorities to prioritise rapid antigen tests. "One lakh test kits have been procured. Use them wisely in emergency cases," the CM said. He ordered that those aged above 60 years, those with serious illnesses and showing symptoms of influenza-like illness (ILI) have to be identified and subjected to Covid-19 tests.

Officials were directed to constitute booth-level committees with the help of elected representatives and volunteers to monitor quarantining, contact tracing and house-to-house survey.

While asking officials to take "stringent action" against private hospitals that do not cooperate to treat patients, the CM also said that targets should be fixed for labs to conduct Covid-19 tests.

Lockdown elsewhere

Dakshina Kannada and Dharwad districts have decided to impose a lockdown to control the spread of Covid-19. Starting July 15, Dakshina Kannada will be under a lockdown for a week whereas it will be a 9-day lockdown in Dharwad. The Shivamogga district administration has decided to impose a lockdown from 3 pm till 5 am every day. Lockdown has been imposed from July 14 to 20 in Kalaburagi city.