Bengaluru, Mar 19: The Karnataka government has extended the statewide coronavirus shutdown till March 31 as the number of positive cases rose to 14, of whom 11 are those who came in from foreign countries.
In an emergency Cabinet meeting, the state government set up a task force of four ministers to lead the defence against the virus. This core team will have Rs 200 crore to orchestrate the combat.
When chief minister B S Yediyurappa announced the shutdown last week, it was to be in force until March 21, but it was always unlikely that the Covid-19 scare would have waned by then.
Several more restrictions were announced today. Quarantine will be mandatory for all passengers arriving from foreign countries. While schools, colleges and business establishments will continue to be closed, restrictions have been extended to marriages, fairs and social functions as well.
Public entry to Vidhana Soudha, Vikas Soudha and the M.S. Building has been barred till March 31.
While setting up the task force, the government has earmarked Rs 200 crore for the coronavirus campaign. The chief minister said there is no dearth of funds for fighting the virus.
The task force will have deputy chief minister Ashwathnarayana, home minister Basavaraj Bommai, medical education minister Sudhakar, health and family welfare minister B Sreeramulu and chief secretary T M Vijaybhaskar. Sreeramulu will head the task force.
The task force will monitor coronavirus cases on a daily basis and orchestrate the response of all stakeholders. It will issue a daily bulletin on the epidemic and also run awareness campaigns.
With quarantine now mandatory for passengers coming in foreign countries, community centres, hotels, convention centres, resorts and even PGs will be rented to accommodate the new arrivals.
The compulsory quarantine will be for 15 days.
A quarantine stamp will be imprinted on the right hand of passengers coming in from foreign countries.
Since the Centre has relaxed the rules for using SDRF funds, the state government will draw from it to contain the pandemic; therefore, there will be more funds available to all districts, chief minister B S Yediyurappa said in the Assembly.
In further measures, all passengers and suspected Covid-19 cases will be tracked by their mobile phones.
Primary stage
“We are in the first and second stages of the epidemic. The virus is still at a primary stage and has not spread to community level," medical education minister Sudhakar said in the Assembly.
"It is important that we do not let the epidemic enter the third stage. It is possible if we implement stringent measures. People have responded positively to the state government’s measures and are cooperating with our decisions," Sudhakar said.
Comments
Rakesh... dont tell us that all those chant VM are Nationalists
And you cant force people to chant this....
Ibraheem Hussain, Udupi, any comments.
This is sad and not right at all , brothers fighting against each other. Those guys dont represent me .
I apology and prayer to the cop.
Walida-e-hind-ki Zindabad :)
Shave BABA RAMDEVS BEARD....very good to know he rejected say ---mantaram.
They never targetted him , this police man objected for vande mataram , so they thrashed him . so CD is misleading its readers .
I did not see any chaddi statement now. Is it tolerenance?
Shocking, the Great India is turning to intolerant India! credit goes to rulers of India and its state.
ONE WHO VOTED TO MODHIJII ACCHE DINNN LET THEM SEE THIS AND SELECT THIER FUTURE.
THIS PEOPLE FRIST SHAVE U R SWAMIJI BEARED THEN US....
MODHIJI IS FAKEJIIII
Acche din effect
Now Arnab will shout in Newshour that the Muslim policemen is an anti national.
Modi government has already gave all the RSS to take the law into their hand. May be one day will come that our nation will become like Pakistan and Afghanistan; if not controlled by these RSS mad dogs.
The Roots of EVIL : ARROGANCE; ENVY and GREED.
Knowledge makes people HUMBLE
Arrogance make people IGNORANT.
I think there are many Ignorants who say they are the superior . but they really are stupids and commit such acts which they themselves open the door of hell.
THIS IS ACHEE DEEN OF MODI
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