Karnataka Lockdown Extended till June 14 as High Positivity Rate: CM Yediyurappa press meet at 5pm
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Wednesday backed extension of the lockdown till June 14, amid the continuing Covid-19 spread in rural areas and the positivity and fatality rates remaining high despite an overall decline in cases.
The decision is expected to be announced by CM BS Yediyurappa on Thursday, alongside a second relief package for unorganised workers who were left out in the first round announced last month. Ahead of that, the government permitted export-oriented units (EOUs) to function with 50% of their staff from June 3.
“Hon’ble Chief Minister @BSYBJP will address a press conference at 5 pm today,” a post from the official Twitter handle of the Karnataka chief minister’s office (CMO) read.
“Hundred per cent of EOUs are permitted to function with 50% of staff strength by strictly adhering to Covid appropriate behaviour. All functioning industries which employ more than 1,000 people shall do Covid-19 test for at least 10% the employees randomly twice a week,” said a note signed by chief secretary P Ravi Kumar.
Earlier in the day, Yediyurappa said EOUs would be allowed to operate from Thursday, following an appeal from industries minister Jagadish Shettar who cited the huge loss suffered by the sector and its long-term negative impact on the state’s economy.
In discussions on the lockdown, the CM and a few senior ministers were in favour of unlocking in a phased manner after June 7 as Covid cases have dropped by nearly 65% from the peak in the first week of May. Health experts on the state Covid panel, however, stressed that the lockdown must continue at least for one more week as the positivity rate across the state is still hovering around 15%, said a minister who attended the meeting.
The state’s Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), in its report to the government, has said the positivity rate has to fall below 5% and the number of daily cases below 5,000 for restrictions on movement and activities to be relaxed.
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