COVID-19 cases rise to 13, Karnataka extends week-long

With COVID-19 cases reaching 13 with two more people testing postive, the Karnataka government on Wednesday extended the lockdown announced last week to March 31 as it stepped up efforts to combat the spread of the disease which has already claimed a life in the State.

Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa convened an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the impact of COVID-19 and further measures to tackle the outbreak.

The cabinet decided to earmark Rs 200 crore as "immediate expenses" to contain the spread, and constitute a taskforce comprising four Ministers for monitoring the situation on a daily basis, and review measures.

The state government had announced lockdown of malls, cinema theatres, pubs and night clubs for a week, with effect from last Saturday.

Yediyurappa had also issued instructions to stop all kinds of exhibitions, summer camps, conferences, fairs, marriage, sports and engagement events and birthday parties state-wide for a week from Saturday.

The Chief Minister on Wednesday said those curbs would continue till March 31.

The taskforce consists of Medical Education Minister Sudhakar K, Deputy Chief Minister Ashwath Narayan C N, Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai, and Health Minister B Sriramulu.

Chief Secretary T M Vijay Bhaskar would serve as a member of taskforce, which would be headed by Sriramulu.

"For immediate expenses (to contain the spread of the virus), about Rs 200 crore will be earmarked," Yediyurappa said.

The Chief Minister said all passengers coming by
Stating that strict measures will be taken not to allow members of the public enter 'Vidhana Soudha' and 'Vikasa Soudha', the seat of state legislature and secretariat, he said "public events and programmes should not be held, fairs, marriages and other events should be limited, no large-scale event should be held."
The minister said from today the right hand of all international passengers who are arriving in the state will be stamped, so that "primary and secondary contacts are aware, and passengers too do not come in contact with anyone for 15 days."
"This is to contain spread of the virus, and health measures and guidelines need to be followed strictly."