Karnataka’s New Measures Against Covid-19: Jail For Those Defying Quarantine, Free Food For Daily Wagers, And 1,000 New Ventilators

In less than 24 hours after the Janata Curfew that had the entire nation staying indoors, people in Karnataka began to defy orders even in places where the state ordered a complete lockdown.

While many headed out, resorting to panic buying, despite assurances of basic essentials staying in place, there were those who were home quarantined reported moving around the city and found in shopping malls.

In such times, Home Minister B S Bommai is said to have warned those defying lockdown instructions, especially those quarantined to stay indoors or face imprisonment of six months to one year, as reported.

This apart, the state, which had already announced its preparedness in terms of the country’s first exclusive Corona care hospital yesterday, has also roped in private players today in its fight against Corona.

The Chief Minister held a meeting with heads and owners of private hospitals and medical institutions across the state this morning. Since the largest worry was quarantining all those who would have come in contact with those affected by the virus, the state is contemplating a complete lockdown until 31 March.

The state also plans to start 30 fever clinics in the state that will undertake preliminary checkups. Private hospitals have agreed to join hands in this effort by lending the services of their staff and doctors, as well as 100 ventilators.

Apart form the separate block of 1,700 beds at Victoria Hospital, another 1,200 bed setup is being readied at a private hospital said CM B S Yediyurappa.

As far as providing for daily wage earners and labourers whose basic survival will be affected owing to the lockdown, the CM announced free provision of food at all Indira canteens.

Earlier in the day, the CM along with the Health Minister B S Sriramulu and Minister for Medical Education K Sudhakar, and Deputy CM Ashwatha Narayan met officials from Mysuru-based Skanray technologies and decided on the immediate procurement of 1,000 ventilators.

The state has also initiated the procurement of 10 lakh masks and 5 Lakh Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

As complaints of people having arrived in Bengaluru from abroad but not declaring themselves so, began to increase, the government has also constituted 50 home quarantine enforcement teams — each having an ambulance, one Ayush doctor, and one police personnel with wireless set.

Anyone who spots any such person is required to give 100/104 a call and inform the team. The team, on receiving the information, will immediately set out to reach the spot and identify the person, make enquiries and take him to the nearest police station and lodge a complaint.

The complaint will be lodged by the Ayush doctor, following which the person will be taken to the nearest identified mass quarantine centre for 14 days until he is certified by doctors as ‘non-infective’.

As of today, the number of Corona positive cases in the state is 26, with six new cases reported yesterday (22 March).