Karnataka lockdown “No extension after June 7, if…”: CM BS Yediyurappa says

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has stated that extending the lockdown beyond June 7 may not be necessary if the public cooperates and the number of Covid-19 cases decreases. The State government’s decision on the lockdown would be based on public participation and the decrease of Covid cases.

Lockdown has been imposed by the state until June 7. There were speculations that the government may extend the lockdown once again following the Centre’s direction to continue with the Covid-19 guidelines till June 30. “Lockdown will be there till June 7.

Depending on the situation, we will take further decisions. For now, it will be there till June 7. All the strict measures that need to be taken will be followed till then,” Yediyurappa said. After a three-hour-long meeting with MPs, legislators, and public representatives from Mysuru, Hassan, Belagavi, Kalaburagi and Vijayapura districts that have high caseload of the virus cases, the Chief Minister said any further decision would depend on the situation and decline in cases, as per a report by media.

“If people cooperate, the question of extending it (the lockdown) after June 7 may not arise, people will have to cooperate. We will put in all our efforts,” he said. The State government had initially announced 14 days of lockdown from April 27 but imposed a complete lockdown from May 10 to May 24 as the cases increased. Citing lockdown yielding results and experts advice, it was extended till June 7.