Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Thursday said that night curfew will be imposed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Bengaluru and 7 cities across Karnataka between April 10-20 to contain the Covid pandemic, which is seeing a resurgence in the state.
"Given surging Covid-19 cases in the state, corona night curfew will be imposed in Bengaluru, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Mangaluru, Manipal, Mysuru, Tumakuru and Udupi cities from April 10-20 between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.," Yediyurappa said after the virtual meeting of all Chief Ministers with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Covid situation.
Essential services will be allowed during the night curfew.
Covid cases are rising in Bengaluru and six other districts across the state, he said the fatality rate, however, remained low below 0.5 per cent and the positivity rate was 6.04% across the state on Wednesday.
"The Prime Minister stressed upon enhancing testing and advised the state to focus on micro-containment zones, ensure ambulances, oxygen supply and ventilators," said Yediyurappa.
"Modi advised us to intensify vaccine drive from April 11-14 and launch an awareness campaign for Covid appropriate behaviour by all citizens, with the help of celebrities and opinion-makers, with special focus on youth," he said.
Large gatherings and congregations in public places, including places of worship, fairs and during festivals will remain banned, said the state government.
"Vaccination drive has been stepped up with 6,000 centres across the state. Till April 5, 53 lakh people have received the jab, covering 22.31 per cent of the targeted population above 45 years of age," asserted Yediyurappa.
Given the surge in cases, the state health department has doubled testing to 1.2 lakh per day, with 95 per cent of them through the RT-PCR method.
"We have also ramped up general beds, oxygenated beds and intensive care units (ICUs)," said the Chief Minister.
There are 42,000 general beds, 30,000 oxygenated beds, 3,000 ICUs and 2,900 beds with ventilators in state-run hospitals across the state.
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Yediyurappa has appealed to people for their cooperation and show responsible behaviour and follow the Covid-induced guidelines to curb the virus spread.
Bengaluru reported 4,422 cases on Wednesday, taking the city's Covid-19 tally to 4,64,438, including 38,946 active cases. The infection claimed 36 lives, including 22 in Bengaluru during the last 24 hours, taking the state's death toll to 12,767 and the city's toll to 4,740.