<p>Imposing daytime restrictions on the movement of people and tweaking the night curfew timings are options before the state government ahead of an all-party meeting Tuesday where the next steps on containing the Covid-19 spurt will be finalised.</p>.<p>On Monday, the government took suggestions from Bengaluru MPs, ministers and legislators from all parties on the pandemic situation in the city. Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa is expected to decide on new measures after Tuesday's all-party meeting chaired by Governor Vajubhai R Vala.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/karnataka-governor-to-chair-all-party-meeting-on-april-20-976079.html">Karnataka Governor to chair all-party meeting on April 20</a></strong></p>.<p>Revenue Minister R Ashoka said that all MLAs and MPs were against imposing a lockdown, but they recommended strict measures. Yediyurappa attended the meeting via video conference from hospital where he is undergoing Covid-19 treatment.</p>.<p>Some MLAs suggested imposing Section 144 across the city to curb the movement of people. While some suggested starting the night curfew from 8 pm instead of 10 pm, others opposed the idea of a night curfew itself, Ashoka said.</p>.<p>But Congress MLAs were unamused over the government's handling of the situation. "Why didn’t the government take precautions 2-3 months ago? No answer. How do we help people who aren't finding beds, ventilators and medicines? No answer. There was no solution," former minister Krishna Byre Gowda said.</p>.<p>Another former minister Ramalinga Reddy said every household should be given Rs 25,000 if a lockdown was imposed. Congress MLC CM Ibrahim favoured prohibitory orders instead of a lockdown, whereas Chamarajpet MLA BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan said the government should set aside 25 hospital beds for legislators who can then allot them to the needy.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/karnataka-minister-k-sudhakar-indicates-strict-covid-19-control-measures-976082.html">Karnataka minister K Sudhakar indicates strict Covid-19 control measures</a></strong></p>.<p>Bangalore Rural MP DK Suresh, the lone Congress MP from Karnataka, said the government was drowning. "And they want to take us down with them."</p>.<p>Defending the government, Ashoka said the government had arranged 14% more ICU beds this year. "Many private hospitals are yet to allot beds," he said, adding that only a tenth of the 50% beds in private hospitals was with the government. "This will increase to 60% in a week and soon all private hospitals will reserve half the beds."</p>.<p>A nodal officer will be appointed for every Assembly constituency to respond to Covid-19 issues, Ashoka said. "The main reason for bed shortage is that people are getting hospitalized unnecessarily," he said.</p>.<p>Crematoriums have been directed to remain open 24 hours, Ashoka said. He also said the government will hire more people to ensure BU codes are generated faster for patients.</p>
<p>Imposing daytime restrictions on the movement of people and tweaking the night curfew timings are options before the state government ahead of an all-party meeting Tuesday where the next steps on containing the Covid-19 spurt will be finalised.</p>.<p>On Monday, the government took suggestions from Bengaluru MPs, ministers and legislators from all parties on the pandemic situation in the city. Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa is expected to decide on new measures after Tuesday's all-party meeting chaired by Governor Vajubhai R Vala.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/karnataka-governor-to-chair-all-party-meeting-on-april-20-976079.html">Karnataka Governor to chair all-party meeting on April 20</a></strong></p>.<p>Revenue Minister R Ashoka said that all MLAs and MPs were against imposing a lockdown, but they recommended strict measures. Yediyurappa attended the meeting via video conference from hospital where he is undergoing Covid-19 treatment.</p>.<p>Some MLAs suggested imposing Section 144 across the city to curb the movement of people. While some suggested starting the night curfew from 8 pm instead of 10 pm, others opposed the idea of a night curfew itself, Ashoka said.</p>.<p>But Congress MLAs were unamused over the government's handling of the situation. "Why didn’t the government take precautions 2-3 months ago? No answer. How do we help people who aren't finding beds, ventilators and medicines? No answer. There was no solution," former minister Krishna Byre Gowda said.</p>.<p>Another former minister Ramalinga Reddy said every household should be given Rs 25,000 if a lockdown was imposed. Congress MLC CM Ibrahim favoured prohibitory orders instead of a lockdown, whereas Chamarajpet MLA BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan said the government should set aside 25 hospital beds for legislators who can then allot them to the needy.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/karnataka-minister-k-sudhakar-indicates-strict-covid-19-control-measures-976082.html">Karnataka minister K Sudhakar indicates strict Covid-19 control measures</a></strong></p>.<p>Bangalore Rural MP DK Suresh, the lone Congress MP from Karnataka, said the government was drowning. "And they want to take us down with them."</p>.<p>Defending the government, Ashoka said the government had arranged 14% more ICU beds this year. "Many private hospitals are yet to allot beds," he said, adding that only a tenth of the 50% beds in private hospitals was with the government. "This will increase to 60% in a week and soon all private hospitals will reserve half the beds."</p>.<p>A nodal officer will be appointed for every Assembly constituency to respond to Covid-19 issues, Ashoka said. "The main reason for bed shortage is that people are getting hospitalized unnecessarily," he said.</p>.<p>Crematoriums have been directed to remain open 24 hours, Ashoka said. He also said the government will hire more people to ensure BU codes are generated faster for patients.</p>