Omicron Scare: Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai rules out lockdown

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday ruled out a lockdown, but said that the state government was taking utmost precautions to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Basavaraj Bommai made the statement amid concerns about the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, which the World Health Organization has designated as a variant of concern.

The Karnataka chief minister said that the government has instructed officials to increase the number of Covid-19 tests per day. “The [state] health minister will be holding a meeting with officials and experts, the outcome of which will be shared with me, following which we may take certain decisions keeping in view the current circumstances,” Bommai said to media.

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Bommai said that normal life should continue, but coronavirus-related regulations should be followed at places where residents gather in groups. The chief minister added that extra vigilance will be maintained in the areas where clusters have emerged. The chief minister said that the government is “extra vigilant” about people who have travelled from foreign countries and is tracking, tracing and testing them and their contacts.

Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar said that the state government will decide on placing restrictions on Christmas, New Year celebrations and the the upcoming Assembly elections based on the World Health Organization’s report on the new Covid-19 variant.

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