Four 'adventurous' madrasa students trespass at Belagavi airport

Bengaluru, June 27: In the wake of mounting covid-19 cases across Karnataka, the state government has decided to extend the night curfew hours and to re-impose Sunday lockdown. 

Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa held an emergency meeting on Saturday with the state's top officials to discuss measures to further contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. 

During the meeting, it was decided that a state-wide lockdown will be imposed on each Sunday starting July 5. Only essential services and supplies will be allowed on Sundays.

Timings of the night curfew have also been revised to 8 PM - 5 AM from the earlier 9 PM - 5 AM. “We have decided to impose a curfew starting Monday, June 29, from 8 pm to 5 am every day. Right now, the curfew timing is 9 pm to 5 am, but it’ll be advanced by an hour to 8 pm,” said Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai

Commissioner of Bengaluru's civic body, BBMP has been directed to set up more wholesale vegetable markets to deter large crowds.

Meanwhile, government offices in Karnataka will open only five days a week and the weekend will be off for government employees.

It was also decided during the meeting on Saturday that a centralized bed-allocation system for Covid-19 patients will be taken up to ensure that each patient gets a bed without overwhelming the healthcare infrastructure.

Yediyurappa has also instructed officials to increase the number of ambulances for Covid-19 patients to 250 apart from arranging separate vehicles to carry mortal remains of victims. The police control room will aid officials in identifying the location and easing the movement of ambulances.

Information about nodal officers working for COVID management will be published. Joint Commissioners of 8 regions will be given additional responsibilities and KAS officers will be appointed to assist them.

The services of 180 ESI doctors appointed by the Labour Department will also be relied on by the state government. CM Yediyurappa has also asked officials to reserve wedding halls, hostels and other institutions in Bengaluru as COVID Care Centres.

Bengaluru Urban DC, on the other hand, was instructed to identify more places for the last rites of patients and also to form more teams for this purpose. 

The BBMP Commissioner has been told to notify reservation of 50 per cent beds in medical colleges and private hospitals.

Mangaluru, May 21: A man who was quarantined in Moodbidri town of Dakshina Kannada after returning from Mumbai has reportedly committed suicide under mysterious circumstances.

The victim has been identified as Dayanand Poojary from Kadandale.

The exact reason for the suicide is not yet known. However, it is suspected that he might have resorted to the extreme step out of fear about COVID-19 and about the means of his future livelihood.

He was admitted to the quarantine facility at Kadandale school around 1 am on Thursday, May 21. Within a couple of hours he ended his life, sources said.

A case has been registered and investigations are on.

Mangaluru/Udupi, June 28: The coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi have recorded 97 and 40 fresh coronavirus positive cases in last 24 hours. 

With the highest single day spike, the total covid-19 positive cases in Dakshina Kannada mounted to 665, among which 272 cases are now active.

So far 313 people have recovered and discharged from the hospitals. 13 covid-19 patients have passed away. Two among them have died due to non covid reasons. 

With the 40 fresh cases, Udupi’s total mounted to 1179, among which only 135 cases are active. 1042 people have recovered and discharged from the hospitals. Two people passed away.