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Bengaluru, Jul 16: Amid difficulties being faced by COVID-19 patients in getting beds, the Karnataka government on Wednesday made bed allocation display board mandatory in all hospitals registered under Karnataka Private Medical Establishment (KPME).

"It is made mandatory that all hospitals registered under KPME in Karnataka State should display at the reception counter, a bed allocation display board," a notification issued by the state government read.

"It should display the name of the hospital, the total number of beds (as per of KPME registration) and the total number of beds allocated for COVID-19 patients referred by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)," it said.

The notification further stressed that the data must corroborate with the data of the central bed allocation system of BBMP. The display board should be arranged by July 16.

Non-compliance to the order issued by the state government will attract punishment under relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act 2005 and Indian Penal Code, the order read.

The state government on June 23 issued a notification making it mandatory to reserve 50 per cent of the beds in private hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients referred by public health authorities.

Bengaluru, April 3: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Friday held a meeting with Muslim leaders and legislators, seeking their cooperation in containing COVID-19.

In a press statement, the Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said that the Muslim leaders have agreed to give details of persons who visited Tablighi Markaz in Nijamuddin and has also assured that they will convince the attendees to undergo tests for coronavirus and also follow quarantine rules.

CM Yediyurappa also informed media that the Muslim leaders are also advising the members of their community to offer prayers at home and also to stay indoors to maintain social distancing during "azan".

Also, an appeal has been made to the Muslim community to cooperate with the health workers during the treatment.

The Karnataka Chief Minister also appealed the masses not to pay heed to any sort of rumours pertaning to COVID-19. "Let all of us strictly follow precautionary measures and win the battle over caronavirus."

Dubai, Jan 10: Indian expats in Dubai and the northern Emirates will now be able to get passports issued on the same day under certain conditions, including a higher fee, the Consulate here has announced.

Consul General of India in Dubai Vipul on Thursday announced that the Consulate will start issuing tatkal passports (issued in emergency cases) on the same day, the Gulf News said in a report.

Vipul made the announcement during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (Non Resident Indian-NRI Day) celebrations at the consulate.

He said the same day issuance service for tatkal passports can be availed only if the application is submitted before noon at the office of BLS International, the outsourced service provider for Indian passport and visa applications, in Al Khaleej Centre, Bur Dubai.

"We already issue tatkal passports in 24 hours. We are going one step beyond that. We are going to issue tatkal passport on the same day if it is applied for before 12 noon. By evening, we can issue the tatkal passport," the Consul General added.

The mission receives about 850 passport applications daily.

Last year, the consulate issued more than 200,000 passports, over 2500 emergency certificates (one-way travel document), over 2,800 police clearance certificates and provided 72,000 attestation services including registration of births and deaths, according to Vipul.