Karnataka to have total lockdown on Sundays starting July 5

The Karnataka government on Saturday took a slew of decisions including imposing total lockdown on Sundays starting July 5 in view of the spike in the number of coronavirus cases in the state.

It was also decided that there will be night curfew from 8 pm to 5 am, which will come into effect from Monday, according to an official statement.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa with the ministers and officials amid growing opposition outcry to impose stringent lockdown to contain COVID-19 cases in the state.

"Lockdown would be imposed every Sunday, with effect from July 5, 2020 until further orders. No activities shall be permitted on that day except essential services and supplies. All government offices shall remain closed on all Saturdays, along with second and fourth Saturdays with effect from July 10," the statement read.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Commissioner was directed to set up more number of wholesale vegetable markets to avoid crowding in large wholesale vegetable markets in the city.

It was also decided to have a centralised bed allocation system to speed up hospitalisation of COVID-19 patients.

The CM directed the officials to enhance the number of ambulances to carry coronavirus patients and to arrange separate ambulances for carrying mortal remains of patients who die due to the contagion.

He also directed the officials to use the police control room wireless system to identify location and easy movement of ambulances.

Yediyurappa told the officials to publish details of nodal officers working for Covid Management.

It was decided at the meeting to delegate more responsibilities to joint commissioners of eight municipal zones in Bengaluru and also appoint Karnataka Administrative Services officers in these zones to assist the joint commissioners.

The 180 ESI doctors appointed by the labour department will also be pressed into service and probationary tahsildars will be appointed as nodal officers for coronavirus hospitals and COVID care centres.

Marriage halls, hostels and other institutions in Bengaluru will also be reserved for COVID care centres and to avail railway coaches with beds.

The Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru Urban was directed to identify more places for the last rites of coronavirus victims.

Yediyurappa told the official to form teams for conducting last rites.

Besides notifying reservation of 50 per cent of beds in medical colleges and private hospitals, the BBMP commissioner will also notify tie-up with hotels with hospitals to avoid any shortage of beds for treatment, the chief minister said during the meeting.