Karnataka: COVID Lockdown To Continue Till 21 June In 11 Districts With High Positivity Rate, Announces CM Yediyurappa

The Covid-induced lockdown would continue, till 21 June, in 11 districts where positivity rate continues to be high, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said on Thursday (10 June).

"The extended lockdown will continue in districts which still have a high positivity rate," he told reporters after a meeting with ministers, health experts and officials.

The 11 districts where the lockdown will continue for another week from 14 June to 21 June are Bengaluru Rural, Belagavi, Chamarajanagar, Chikkamagalur, Dakshina Kannada, Davangere, Hassan, Kodagu, Mandya, Mysuru, and Shivamogga.

These districts have been registering over 15 per cent positive cases since the pandemic's second wave struck the state in early April.

"Lockdown will be partially relaxed till 21 June in the remaining 19 districts, including Bengaluru Urban and Managaluru where the positivity rate has declined substantially," said the Chief Minister.

The relaxation will allow autos and taxis to operate with two passengers in these 19 districts.

"Essential shopping will be allowed from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Parks will be open for walking from 5-10 a.m. Street vendors can do business from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.," said Yediyurappa.

"Night curfew from 7 p.m. till 5 a.m. will be in place, while weekend curfew from Friday to Monday will be from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.," he said.

The 19 districts where lockdown restrictions will be partially lifted from June 14 are: Bagalkot, Ballari, Bengaluru Urban, Bidar, Chikkaballapur, Chitradurga, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Kalaburagi, Kolar, Koppal, Raichur, Ramanagar, Tumukur, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Vijayapura, and Yadagir.

The decision to continue the lockdown for one more week in 11 districts and partially relax it in 20 other districts was taken on the advice of the state technical advisory committee of health experts.

"The Covid-induced restrictions, which have been in force since 27 April, will continue in the 11 districts to reduce the positivity rate below 5 per cent," an official told IANS here.

The Deputy Commissioners of these districts have been directed to take stringent action against violators of the lockdown.

"Covid appropriate behaviour should be strictly followed. If the situation improves, we can announce more relaxations," Yediyurappa added.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)