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After a lot of deliberation, the Karnataka government went ahead to impose stricter restrictions in the state. Night curfew has been imposed in the state from 9pm on 21st April to 6am of 4th May. The decision has been taken after an all-party meeting on Tuesday. All shops, shopping malls except those offering essential services will remain close at 9pm, April 21. All educational institutions, gyms, spas will remain closed. Swimming pools will be opened for sports persons for training purpose only.
Earlier the state-imposed night curfew in seven districts of the state and the chief minister BS Yediyurappa informed that the ongoing night curfew between 10 pm and 5 am will continue till April 20.
The permission had been given to only essential services, patients, and passengers to ply during these hours. Bengaluru authorities already implemented restrictions under Section 144 of CrPC in the city limits starting from April 7. However, the CM has clarified earlier that it would not impose a lockdown in the state.
Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar on Tuesday indicated Bengaluru has emerged as an epicenter of coronavirus cases in Karnataka and there was a need to work on a war footing. According to the PTI report, Sudhakar said, “Bengaluru is the epicenter of Karnataka. If you see the total cases, at least 70 percent are reported in Bengaluru.”
He was replying to queries on the all-party meeting to be chaired by Governor Vajubhai Vala.
As per the PTI sources, the state’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) on Covid also recommended stringent curfew-like restrictions and enforcement measures in the state.
Meanwhile, Yediyurappa who got reinfected by the virus and is undergoing treatment also attended the meeting virtually. The authorities considered these serious measures regarding Bengaluru and seven other districts, which have been designated as sensitive zones in view of the alarming rise in Covid-19 cases.
The measures were taken after considering suggestions by the opposition leaders such as Siddaramaiah, Congress state chief D K Shivakumar and JD(S) leader, and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy.
On opposition’s accusation that the government has miserably failed in managing the situation, Sudhakar said, “We have to be battle-ready for this war. We have to strive to protect people and their lives. This is where our focus should be.”
The health minister also noted the state is unable to provide more ICU beds to the patients due to the rising coronavirus cases. Sudhakar also blamed people for the current situation stating that if they had strictly followed the norms, there was no need for any lockdown or night curfew.
Meanwhile, India has recorded the highest single-day spike in death counts in the last 24 hours with 1,761 deaths being reported by the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday morning. Breaching the 15.3 million mark, the country now has added 259,170 fresh covid cases in the last 24 hours.
Noticing the ‘struggling health care system’ due to the fourth Covid wave, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal imposed a six-day lockdown across the capital starting Monday (April 19) at 10 PM till next Monday (April 26), 5 AM.
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