Deve Gowda openly abuses Karnataka CM, calls him ‘neecha’, claims credit for his growth

Bengaluru, Jun 6: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Saturday said hotels and restaurants would be allowed to re-open, but the precautionary measures laid down by the Centre against coronavirus were mandatory.

The Chief Minister on Friday held a meeting with the tourism and transport department, also stakeholders, regarding revival of tourism in the state.

Hotels associations and transport companies have said they would follow the guidelines issued by the government, an official press release said here.

The Karnataka government had said it would go by the Centre's direction on opening religious places of worship, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants and other hospitality services on June 8.

Buses, hotels and taxi owners association placed some demands at the meeting, the release said, adding that Yediyurappa informed them that he would examine their demands and take appropriate decisions.

The Chief Minister also released a handout regarding the guidelines that need to be followed as the tourism department is opening hotels, guest houses and tourist destinations.

Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi, Tourism Minister C T Ravi and senior officials of the department participated in the meeting.

The government had, on Thursday, said safaris, trekking, jungle lodges and resorts in areas that fall outside the COVID-19 containment zones can re-open provided they adhere to social distancing, hygiene as issued by the governments.

Bengaluru, Mar 30: The total number of COVID-19 cases in Karnataka has climbed to 88 on Sunday after five more persons tested positive for the lethal infection.

"Five more COVID-19 cases reported in Karnataka taking positive cases in the state to 88," said the State health department.

Of the five, one is a close contact of an earlier confirmed patient and the others are workers of a pharmaceutical company in Mysuru, from where a person had tested positive, the department said.

The country is under a 21-day lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus, which according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has infected 1,071 people so far.

Newsroom, Apr 29: Abdul Rahman Al Sudais, the imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah has hinted that Muslims will be allowed to perform prayers again at the holiest mosque after a few days. 

Al Sudais, who is also the president of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, predicted this while answering a question from a reporter about the possibility of having worshippers gather again at the mosque.

He said that soon people will be allowed to return to the mosque for prayers and for circumambulation around the holy Kaaba.

The authorities care about people more than anything else, he said. "All Muslims should pray to Allah to help us through this pandemic. People must be careful and take necessary precautions to protect themselves and others," he added.