Bengaluru, Jul 17: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Friday said lockdown is not the solution for controlling COVID-19 and made it clear that there was no proposal before the government to extend it in Bengaluru.
Bengaluru urban and rural areas are currently under "complete lockdown" since 8 pm of July 14 and it will be effective till 5 am on July 22.
With the spike in cases, speculations were rife that the current lockdown is likely to be extended for 15 days, as that much time is required to break the chain.
"Lockdown is not the solution to control COVID. There is no proposal before the government to extend the lockdown," Yediyurappa was quoted as saying by his office in a release.
The Chief Minister today chaired a meeting with Ministers who have been made in-charge of eight zones in the city and officials regarding the COVID-19 situation in Bengaluru.
Earlier too, on July 13, the eve of the lockdown, Yediyurappa had said the government did not plan to extend it in Bengaluru urban and rural districts, and had appealed to the people to cooperate by not paying heed to rumours.
However, earlier today city Mayor M Goutham Kumar and commissioner of the civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike B H Anil Kumar had favoured its extension.
They had said that in their personal opinion, a 15 day lockdown would be good, as that much time is required to break the chain.
The Opposition Congress too had asked for a minimum of 15 days lockdown after taking expert opinion.
"Respected Chief Minister, you have imposed lockdown in Bengaluru, but it is difficult to expect results from this lockdown, which has been imposed just for for the sake of it.
Take expert opinion and enforce strict lockdown in Bengaluru at least for 15 days.
If not, even if God comes,it will be difficult to protect Bengaluru," KPCC Working President Eshwar Khandre tweeted.
Speaking to reporters after attending the meeting chaired by the CM, Revenue Minister R Ashoka said lockdown will not be extended and all activities can resume as usual from July 22.
"Lockdown will not be extended. I'm saying this after discussing with the Chief Minister. There is no such thinking before the government.
CM has got report from the experts, it was discussed in the meeting.
By lockdown we can only postpone things, we have taken that breathing time.
If we continue lockdown it will keep on continuing," he said.
The Minister said the process of sealing places, wherever required, would continue.
He said the plan to conduct more tests was discussed at the meeting and all the required zone wise arrangements would be made
"We also discussed about beds and shortage of ventilators and steps will be taken to arrange for them," he said.
As of July 16 evening, cumulatively 51,422 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 1,032 deaths and 19,729 discharges.
Bengaluru urban district tops the list of positive cases, with a total of 25,288 infections.
Out of 4,169 fresh cases reported on Thursday, a whopping 2,344 were from Bengaluru urban alone
At the meeting, the Chief Minister said all necessary steps should be taken to clear all the difficulties faced by infected patients in getting admitted to hospitals.
The CMO statement quoted Yediyurappa as directing Ministers to hold meetings with private hospitals to ensure that COVID and non COVID patients get treatment.
Warning of strict action against private hospitals if they don't allocate beds for COVID patients,he said volunteers and nodal officers would be appointed to gather information about admission of such patients and availability of beds
The Chief Minister said rapid antigen tests should be conducted on those dying at hospitals or homes and necessary action taken to hand over the bodies or to conduct last rites as per the procedures, depending on the cause of death.
Recruitment was on to appoint doctors to resolve shortage, he said,adding that volunteers have been identified in each ward for micromanagement and ambulances allocated.
Marriage halls and lodges have been selected in all wards for those not having separate quarantine facilities, Yediyurappa said and stressed on increasing testing.
Deploying extra police force at places where there are chances of people gathering in large numbers, ensuring beds availability and ambulances within two hours of a patient testing positive- with decentralized monitoring, giving priority to those symptomatic above 65-years during allocation of beds were among directions given by the Chief Minister.
Comments
If it is so, why did'nt she came out when the incident took place.
If she was scared then, how she became bold now?
Such kind of blacksheep are found in all religions.
And if the priest is guilty then he must be punished as per law of the land.
I was just trying to think what kind of punishment we can give to this rapist.....first and foremost thing is his wife has been committed suicide...for that he did not get punishment....now raped this girl....she will have to face the society with baby which will come up in the near future....
best punishment for this crime is \hang him till death\""
Backstabbing the nation is the biggest crime. This is apparently not a rape. This is consensual sex. May be that woman is used as a bait by anti nationals.
Dear Viren , After this also do you think he is nationalist ? To become natiolist they should qualify by this type of test? Acche Din Already as promised!!!
.............ne walon ko parameshwari ma ke temple mein kue bitaya....
Looks like the troll,who tell this as their internal matter is hand in gloves with the priest or the blackmailer....he must be grilled
Ha Ha Ha Ha...This is called Viren Joke...Viren please list the people and the Crime which belong to ur Internal onces.So that no one in future will Comment on them.
One is Cleared RAPE and RAPIST is ur Internal.NEXT....
stone him to death if he is really a rapist
shame on u, dont call him priest please for god sake.
look at his face, by seeing his face only we can make out he s big proud, should enquir him properly. he stolen many gold jewellery from temple.
now a days for personal grudge some people will do like this. please enquiry on to this simply putting accused photo without clarification its against the law :)
Mr. Kotian Saheb, those who are raping women and those who are supporting these rapists are National, and those who are opposing these evil act are anti national.
Never mind we are anti national for those Desh aur dharm drohi's.
Women is our mother and our sisters.
this kind of human should be banned to enter temple. really black dot of society,
this should be stone to death if allegation against him are true.
No Bajarangi is speaking exept Kotian ? It is his internal matter,
Does Kotian will give the unborn chid his name as father ?
every religion priest are same. they do one thing and tell us to do other things. they only not following which s must.
Why people started screaming. This is our internal matter. anti nationals need not to interfere.
Temple Priest again....
Those who are intelligent should understand surely its not a divine place were many priest are caught in such evil acts specailly with girls.. If girls are not active & did not recognize the DIVINE option of COVERING their beauty to strangers... More of such incidents will follow in near future by these evil innocent looking foxes...
Now be careful ladies.... you are asking permission to go all the temples. Never mind you can go but go along with your blood relation men. Duniya Kharaab hain. Even you are not safe in temple or mandir. There are many Swamiji's were in India facing these charges. You know very well.
In 1400 years before Prophet Mohammed guided that any women who wish to go outside (such as market, mosque etc.) to accompany their blood relation men.
Inquisitive to see Comments from Kotians and like minded trolls
WAKE UP guys! Cheddi will twist this reality & U honest hindus will accept it as it is... Please dont support the culprits who are involved in crime of our girls.... Protect the girls which ever religions it is... Stop supporting the CULPRITS who alwz twist the realities.
Never FEAR this people - FEAR only the one who created U & ME. When U fear the one who gave us soul... our fear for CREATION will become WEAK>>>
Shameless People....Throw him out of Country.Ban him from India.This is what we call Intolerance.Being a priest in a reputed and Historic place how could he do such shameless act.Innocent girl should get Justice.
Pitty on his 20 year old Daughter.
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