Karnataka on Friday extended the statewide lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic by two weeks till June 7 while Kerala extended the lockdown by a week till May 30. In Karnataka, the current restrictions on most activities will continue by another 14 days.
The decision was announced by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa after a review of the Covid-19 situation in the state in a meeting with senior officers and advisors. “Covid is spreading to all villages and deaths have gone up. To rein in the situation, we have taken this decision. I appeal to people with folded hands to cooperate with the government,” the chief minister said while making the announcement.
“Only now have we been able to control the spike in cases to some extent after bringing in strict restrictions. Based on recommendations of technical advisory committee we have decided to extend it till 6 am on June 7,” he added. The government has also decided to treat all the cases of ‘black fungus’ in government hospitals free of cost, he further announced.
What’s Allowed, What’s Not:
The same restrictions on movement of people that are currently in place will continue till June 7. These include:
– Shops selling essentials like groceries, vegetables and food products will be open from 6 am to 10 am
– E-commerce services will be allowed through the day.
– Takeaways from hotels and restaurants will be allowed.
– Hotels cannot open to allow people to eat in their premises though.
– Factories and other private institutions, schools and colleges will remain closed.
This is the third extension of lockdown in the state after it witnessed the worst spike in the Covid cases during the second wave. The first round of ‘Corona Curfew’ was imposed from April 27 to May 10, which was later extended from May 11 to 24.
On Thursday, Yediyurappa had announced a Rs 1,111 crore package for those whose livelihoods have been severely affected in the last one month.
The daily coronavirus cases in Karnataka is witnessing a decline as the state registered 28,869 new infections, which was outnumbered by recoveries with 52,257 discharges. However the number of fatalities continued to remain high at 548, the health department said on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also announced the extension of lockdown in state till May 30. He further announced the withdrawal of “triple lockdown” measures being implemented in three districts — Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Thrissur from May 16. However, the “triple lockdown” will be continued in Malappuram district.
Kerala has been witnessing a huge spike of cases and deaths during the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The state has been under lockdown since May 8 after weekend restrictions and lockdown-like curbs imposed earlier failed to create any desired impact in terms of the daily caseload of the infected persons. On May 16, the lockdown was extended to May 23.
Kerala on Thursday reported 30,491 new COVID-19 cases and 128 more deaths, taking the caseload to 22,33, 904 and the toll to 6,852, the state government said. As many as 44,369 persons have been cured, pushing the total recoveries to 19,38,887, while 3,17,850 are undergoing treatment for the infection.
Malappuram reported 4,746 cases, the highest, followed by Thiruvananthapuram 3,969.Ernakulam and Kollam also reported over 3,000 cases. Of the new cases, 101 are health workers, 172 had come from outside the state and 28,176 were infected through contact.
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