Karnataka travel rules: Travellers from Chennai, Delhi to undergo 3-day institutional quarantine

Bengaluru, June 15: The Karnataka government on Monday modified its policy of quarantining interstate travellers by imposing a 3-day institutional quarantine for those coming to the state from Chennai and Delhi followed by 11 days of home isolation.

So far, a seven-day institutional quarantine was prescribed for those returning from Maharashtra, while there was no mandatory institutional quarantine for asymptomatic people returning to Karnataka from other states.

Karnataka quarantine rules in brief

• Those returning from states other than Maharashtra were asked to quarantine themselves at home.
• Those coming from Maharashtra are subjected to seven days of institutional quarantine followed by seven days of home quarantine.
• People coming from Chennai and Delhi will have to go for three days of institutional quarantine and eleven days of home quarantine.
• The decision has been taken following the increase in the number of coronavirus cases from these states.

Out of total 7,000 cases in the state 4,386 are returnees from Maharashtra and their contacts are 1,340. Those who returned from abroad comprise 216.

Returnees from other states constitute- Delhi 87, Tamil Nadu 67, Gujarat 62. Noting that there are indications that the coronavirus infections are expected to increase in the days to come, Yediyurappa assured people that the government will take all precautionary measures required, and appealed to people to cooperate, follow social distancing, and wear masks.

He said it has been decided to observe the coming Thursday as "mask days" by organising a walk across the state and the main event will be held at Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat.

"Strict measures will be taken against those not wearing masks and not maintaining social distancing here on.

Initially, Rs 200 fine will be imposed, this will be throughout the state," he said. Further stating that the government has made special efforts to control the spread of COVID, he said a special COVID-19 taskforce has been constituted for Bengaluru and surrounding areas, BBMP (city civic body) commissioner and Deputy Commissioners of neighbouring districts have been asked to pay special attention.

As of June 14 evening, cumulatively 7,000 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 86 deaths and 3,955 discharges. Out of 2,956 active cases in the state till last evening, 2,940 patients are in isolation at designated hospitals and are stable, while 16 are in ICU.

Yediyurappa said the state's mortality rate is 1.2 per cent while the national average is 2.8 per cent. The state's recovery rate is 56.6 per cent and the national average is 51 per cent, he said, adding that 93 per cent of the total cases are asymptomatic while the remaining seven per cent are symptomatic.

In Bengaluru, there are 697 cases and out of them 330 are active. The city has reported 36 deaths.