In a bid to ensure the state is well prepared for the third wave of Covid 19, Karnataka has decided to conduct special vaccination drives every Wednesday.

Health and Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar said on Monday that the state is gearing up to vaccinate 10 lakh people every Wednesday.

“Centre has provided 1.10 crore vaccines in the month of August. The supply has increased after Chief Minister and I had a discussion with the Centre. We are aiming to vaccinate 5 lakh people every day from now onwards,” said Dr Sudhakar, adding that the state is aiming to make “Bengaluru the first metro city to complete vaccination for all its eligible residents”.

So far, the state has vaccinated 4 crore people which includes 1 crore in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits. The minister said the state will now take measures to increase the number in Bidar, Yadgir, Raichur and Kalburgi districts.

A special drive will be conducted for slum-dwellers every day.

Border districts of Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi and villages within 20 kilometres in border areas, which saw a hike in cases earlier this month owing to a surge in neighbouring Kerala and Maharashtra, will be accorded priority.

“Our aim is to fully vaccinate the entire eligible population by the end of December,” said Dr Sudhakar.

With regard to the restrictions imposed and Covid-19 protocols to be followed in the state in the upcoming festival season, the minister said, “even government does not want to restrict any celebrations, but the decision has to be taken according to the situation”.

“It is our duty to keep in mind the welfare of all citizens. Everyone should respect and follow the guidelines. We are confident that the situation will be under control after all these difficult circumstances,” he added.

After reviewing the situation in the state, the government issued a fresh order for surveillance, containment and caution on Monday. As per this order, while the weekend curfew that was in place in various districts across the state has been withdrawn for Belagavi, Bidar, Vijayapura, Mysuru and Chamarajanagara districts, it will continue to be imposed in Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Udupi and Hassan.

Students attending exams, however, are permitted to travel even during the curfew, for which their hall tickets will serve as the permit. But students entering Karnataka from Kerala can only do so with a negative RT-PCR report of not earlier than 72 hours before entry, and will be subjected to compulsory institutional quarantine of seven days at the end of which they will have to undergo RT-PCR tests again.

Weddings and family functions are permitted to be conducted with gatherings up to 50 per cent of the hall capacity and a maximum of 400 people strictly adhering to Covid-19 protocols.