The Karnataka government on Saturday announced relaxation of lockdown restrictions in districts with a positivity rate of less than 5 per cent. In this relaxation, the government has allowed all shops and hotels, clubs, restaurants to operate till 5 pm. Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said that lodges, resorts, gyms, private offices will be able to open with 50 percent efficiency in these districts.
Karnataka was also one of the worst-hit states in the second wave of the pandemic. The peak has now passed as the daily new cases in the state have come to around 5,000. On Friday, 5783 new cases of corona were registered in the state and 168 infected people died. Karnataka Health Minister Dr. K Sudhakar has appealed to the people to do yoga by staying at home on the occasion of International Yoga Day on 21st June in view of corona virus epidemic.
He said that a special COVID-19 vaccination fair would also be organized on this day. Dr. Sudhakar said, ‘Due to the Covid epidemic, this time no person should celebrate Yoga Day in the open or gather in large numbers. This time the mantra of Yoga Day is – stick with yoga, stay at home and do yoga for better health.
Meanwhile, sources say that the government may announce relaxation in 11 districts where lockdown restrictions are still in force. Whereas, in the remaining 19 districts, the movement of people and opening of business can be allowed after June 21.
The government had last week issued new guidelines, extending the lockdown in 11 districts, while announcing some relaxations in the remaining 19 districts from June 14 due to the lack of reduction in the number of COVID-19 cases.
The districts where strict lockdown is in force are Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, Davangere, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada, Bangalore Rural, Mandya, Belagavi and Kodagu.
