No more lockdown in Karnataka, economy also important: CM BS Yediyurappa

BENGALURU: Hours before the weeklong lockdown imposed in Bengaluru Urban and Rural districts comes to an end at 5am on Wednesday, the state government decided not to extend it further.

Addressing people of the state through TV news channels and social media platforms, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said on Tuesday there would be no more lockdowns in the state. “Lockdown is not the solution for controlling the spread of the pandemic. Resource mobilisation is equally important for a government to function. People need to get back to work since the economy is also very important,” Yediyurappa said in his 20-minute address in Kannada.

While the lockdown has ended, night curfew between 9pm and 5am and Sunday curfew will continue till July 31.

According to guidelines issued by chief secretary TM Vijay Bhaskar, restrictions on movement of people and vehicles will continue in containment areas across Bengaluru. All major markets — including KR Market, Yeshwanthpur Market and those on Silver Jubilee Park Road — which are among the containment areas in the city, will be sealed to prevent crowding. All major markets in the state will be shifted to large open spaces or APMC yards. Districts which have recorded a high number of Covid-19 cases will also adopt similar measures.

With this, the state will return to July 1 status when the government released the guidelines for Unlock 2.0.

Wear mask and wash hands, stresses CM

According to Unlock 2.0, all activities except educational institutions, international air travel, Metro, cinema halls, gyms, swimming pools and liquor consumption at bars and pubs will resume.

Yediyurappa stressed that maintaining social distancing and wearing masks is the solution. “The only way to fight coronavirus pandemic is to compulsorily wear mask, wash hands and maintain social distancing. Each citizen has to take care of his/ her health by strictly following the guidelines,” he said.

Yediyurappa admitted the situation had got out of hand after the initial success. “We were successful in the beginning but in recent days, especially in Bengaluru, Covid cases have increased. People who came from Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu added to the problem,” he said. Experts have advised to focus on “5T strategy” — trace, track, test, treat and technology — to control the spread, he added.

He also responded to opposition Congress’ allegation of misappropriation in purchase of equipment and said not a rupee has been misused.