Karnataka 14-day lockdown explained: Will exams be postponed? Can you travel by air or train?

Bengaluru, Apr 26: Aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19, the Karnataka government on Monday issued guidelines to break the chain of COVID-19 transmission in the state, which shall come into effect from 9 pm on April 27 and will be in force including and up to 6 am of May 12.

Metro Rail, taxi and bus services will not be operated, while schools and colleges, hotels, cinemas, shopping malls, stadia and swimming pools will remain closed in Karnataka during the 14-day lockdown starting from Tuesday morning to May 12 morning to contain the surging COVID-19.

According to guidelines, the essentials shop will remain open from 6 am to 10 am every day. No public transport will be available.

Meanwhile, ''more than 12,000 buses have been arranged by three transport corporations to enable a significant number of people to return to their homes. These buses will be operated from Bengaluru to other parts of the state,''Karnataka Dy CM Laxman S Savadi said.

Can you travel by air or train?

Travel by air or train is also prohibited. However, scheduled flights and trains will continue to operate.

The flights and train tickets shall serve as the passes for movement of persons by cab/taxi aggregators/autorickshaws to board flight and trains.

What about the exams scheduled?

Examinations of Visvesvaraya Technological University to be conducted from April 27 will be postponed, in view of 'COVID curfew' from 9pm tomorrow till 6am of May 12. However, rescheduled dates to be announced later.

What is shut during the curfew period?
Schools, colleges, educational institutions, all cinema halls, malls, gyms, sports complexes, theatres, hotels, restaurants, bars to remain closed during 'COVID curfew' from 9pm tomorrow for the next 14 days.

What about metro services and public transport?

Metro rail services to remain closed. Public transport will also remain shut.

After 10 am will shops be closed?

Yes, after 10 am shops will be closed.

What about Inter-State travel restrictions?
Inter-State and intra-state movement of passenger vehicles is allowed only in cases of emergencies.

Who are allowed to travel?
Movement of officers/personnel, including officers and officials and district judiciary in the state, is allowed if they work in any industry that has been exempted. They need to carry their ID card.

Students appearing for exams can use admission tickets as travel pass and use mode of transport available to them, including taxi/auto rickshaw, etc.

Where can the passes be issued for construction workers?

Passes to facilitate movement of construction workers is to be issued by the construction agency concerned.

What are Karnataka's new covid curbs on Travel and other rules?

Patients and their attendants/persons requiring emergency need for movement shall be allowed to move.

Commercial establishments allowed

The following commercial establishments are allowed, and therefore people working in these establishments can travel with ID cards

• E- commerce and delivery
• Shops dealing with food, groceries, fruits and vegetables, dairy and milk booths, meat and fish, and animal fodder. They will be allowed to function from 6 am to 10 am.
• Public Distribution System shops, standalone liquor shops and outlets
• All food processing and related industries.
• Banks, insurance offices and ATMs.
• Print and electronic media.
• Telecommunication, internet services, broadcasting and cable services.
• Only essential staff/employees of IT and ITeS companies shall work from the office.
• Power generation, transmission and distribution units and services.
• Capital and debt market services and notified by the Securities and Exchange Board of India.
• Cold storage and warehousing services.
• Private security services
• Aviation and related services (airlines, airports, maintenance, cargo, ground services, catering, fueling, security, etc).
• Industries/Industrial Establishments (both Government and Private), except related to garments manufacturing.
• All construction activities, civil repair activities.
• Works pertaining to pre-monsoon preparation are permitted.

Is home delivery allowed?

Hotels, restaurants and hospitality services can only act as takeaway and home delivery.

Karnataka government offices will be opened?

Karnataka government offices and departments dealing with health, municipal administration, district administration, medical education, police, civil defence, defence, fire and emergency services, water, electricity and sanitation will operate.

The offices functioning under the government of India such as defence, defence PSUs, armed police forces, public utilities, such as petroleum, CNG, LPG, PNG, power generation and disaster management will also function.

Reserve Bank of India, banks, RBI regulated financial markets, and microfinance institutions with bare minimum staff can operate.

The Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme will be allowed and so will be the operations of homes for children, disabled, mentally challenged, senior citizens, destitutes and women.

How many people are allowed in Marriages and funeral services?

Marriages should not have more than 50 persons while cremation or funeral should not have more than five persons.