Covid-19 cases spike, 5 areas in Bengaluru sealed off for 14 days

BENGALURU: With Bengaluru witnessing a surge in Covid-19 cases, the Karnataka government on Monday announced sealing off of five wards in the city as part of its revised containment policy in which an area that reports five or more cases will be sealed for 14 days.
To start with, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) sealed off several localities in Chamarajpet, Kalasipalya, Chickpet, VV Puram and Byatarayanapura, besides shutting down Kalasipalya market and KR Market till July 7.
Announcing the decision after participating in a review meeting presided over by chief minister BS Yediyurappa, revenue minister R Ashoka said: “There will be a lockdown-like enforcement in these localities in Bengaluru.”
The government has decided to roll out the revised containment rules in badly affected districts such as Kalaburagi and Yadgir. “District administrations have been asked to identify clusters and later make the announcement,’’ Ashoka said.
Under the earlier containment policy, only the house or flat of the Covid-positive person was sealed off.
BBMP chief BH Anil Kumar said: “We had adopted a similar approach in Padarayanapura and managed to contain the spread of the virus. We will replicate it in other localities. If there are over five cases in an area, then the entire locality will be sealed off.”
New containment policy
The officer gave an example: If a street in Chamarajpet has a positive case and a parallel street has another case, both streets and the adjoining streets will be sealed off. Kumar said, “Since many cases are coming in from localities where homes are cheek by jowl, we will seal the entire area till the cases are zero. In areas with one or two cases, we will seal only houses.”
On how the revised containment policy will be rolled out in commercial areas, the commissioner said: “We cannot seal entire Chickpet because traders would be affected. We are working on containment strategies.”
Essential services for residents in sealed-off areas will be door-delivered through MP Covid-19 home delivery app. Residents can also call or WhatsApp to 08061914960.
FIRs against violators
The government also decided to book criminal cases against those violating home-quarantine norms. “We have noticed some people who should be in isolation roaming on roads while keeping their mobiles at home to avoid tracing. The government will deal with such people mercilessly,” minister R Ashoka said.