Karnataka welcomes extension of lockdown, decides to implement it strictly
Welcoming the decision, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappaappealed to the people to voluntarily co-operate with thegovernment to contain the spread of COVID-19 virus.
"I welcome the Prime Minister's decision to extend thelockdown till May 3. Our government will strictly implementthe Centre's guidelines which will be issued tomorrow,
I appeal to the people of Karnataka to voluntarilycooperate with us to contain this disease," he said.
The lockdown, he told reporters, would be followed morestrictly till April 20 as Prime Minister has said, and thesituation would be closely monitored.
"If there are any violations during the lockdown,measures will be tightened, especially in hotspots.
The lockdown came into effect on March 25 and was toexpire on midnight of April 14.
The Prime Minister on Tuesday announced that the currentlockdown would be extended till May 3, saying it is verynecessary to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic inthe country.
In a televised address to the nation, he said thatimplementation of the lockdown will be strictly ensured in thecoming days to ensure that the virus does not spread to newareas.
Detailing the steps that the Karnataka government hastaken on lockdown violators, Yediyurappa said 57,633 vehicleshave been seized, 4,169 people arrested, 2,181 FIRs registeredand Rs 95 lakh fine collected
"Measures that are there now will be tightened further.Aswe had expected, the lockdown has been extended," he said,adding if the people cooperate by staying at home for the nextfew days, all activities could hopefully be resumed as usualafter May 3.
State Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the lockdownwould be tightened further by imposing more restrictions onunnecessary movement of people, erecting more barricades andconducting more checks, among others.
He said that the Centre, in the days to come, would micromanage things aimed at controlling the spread of the virus byeffectively implementing the lockdown and pointed out thatModi had said that after April 20, the situation at taluk atdistrict level would be analysed, based on which a decisionwould be taken area wise.
Bommai also said that orders have been issued through theDGP to ensure that an ADGP rank official is sent to monitorand supervise measures in important districts like Bidar,Gulbarga, Vijayapura, Belagavi, Chikkaballapura, Mysuru,Dakshina Kannada, where there are more coronavirus cases.
Making it clear that there was no scarcity of medicines,essential services and goods, Yediyurappa said all effortswould be taken to carry out agriculture activities without anyhurdle.
He appealed to migrant labourers to stay wherever theyare and be safe