Bengaluru: Amid the unprecedented surge in Covid-19 cases, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa-led government on Friday announced a complete lockdown in the state from May 10 to 24.
Yediyurappa, who made the announcement in this regard, said the “corona curfew was not successful” as the Covid-19 cases “are surging in the state”.
“So, a complete lockdown will be imposed from 10th May 6 a.m. to 24th May 6 a.m. All hotels, pubs and bars will remain closed. Eateries, meat shops and vegetable shops can operate from 6-10 a.m.,” he added.
Yediyurappa said that not even a single person would be allowed after 10 a.m. during the lockdown period.
“I have suggested police officers to take stringent action. We have decided this after looking at the death toll and increasing number of cases,” ANI quoted Yediyurappa as saying.
The Chief Minister, however, said “it’s a temporary decision of lockdown” and requested the migrant labourers to not leave the state.
This comes as Karnataka’s active caseload breached five lakh with 49,058 fresh infections on Thursday.
According to the health department on Thursday, the infection count is now 17,90,104 whereas there are 5,17,075 active cases in the state. The state on Thursday reported 328 Covid deaths over the past 24 hours, taking the total death count to 17, 212.
Bengaluru is contributing a high number of cases to the state’s daily Covid count. Bengaluru Urban district reported 23,706 fresh infections and 139 fatalities.