As COVID cases surge, Karnataka to impose total lockdown on Sundays from July 5

Bengaluru, June 27: Alarmed over growing coronavirus cases in the state, Karnataka has announced that starting July 5, lockdown will be observed on all Sundays throughout the state, with relaxations for essential services. Government offices will have a five-day week from July 10.

The existing timing of night curfew from 9 pm to 5 am in the morning is altered to 8 pm to 5 am with effect from 29th June.

Making the announcement, Karnataka Revenue Minister R. Ashok said that the government is waiting for the SSLC exams to getover, and thus strict rules will be implimented across the state, post exams. However, chief minister B S Yediyurappa is likely to make the final announcement regarding this.

Karnataka lockdown: Possible announcements

• Karnataka government has decided for a weekend lockdown from July 5th.
• Sunday would be a complete lockdown for the entire state.
• From June 29th, 8 PM to 5 AM would be the curfew time.
• Government offices to be shut on Saturdays and Sundays, henceforth.

On Friday, B S Yediyurappa had asserted that there there will be no fresh lockdown, saying that improving economic situation of the state is also equally important.

"There is no question of imposing lockdown for any reason. In some areas (with high case load) we have already implemented lockdown, other than those places there is no question of it being implemented in other places," Yediyurappa told reporters here.

Though the state capital was considered a model for the entire country in COVID management and has seen a spike in cases during the last few days, the pandemic can be controlled if everyone cooperated, he said.

Karnataka's tally of confirmed Covid-19 climbed to 11,923 with 918 new cases in the last 24 hours. Bengaluru accounted for 596 of these cases.

The state also witnessed 371 recoveries and 11 deaths between Friday and Saturday. As of June 27, a total of 7287 patients have recovered from Covid-19 in Karnataka while 191 have succumbed to it.

Now, there are 4441 active cases in Karnataka.