BENGALURU: After Maharashtra,
Karnataka announced on Wednesday night curfew between 11pm and 5am from December 24 to January 1 (extending to January 2 morning) across the state as a precautionary measure amid concerns over a new Covid-19 variant spreading in the UK.
Chief minister BS Yediyurappa had initially announced night restrictions from Wednesday night to January 2 between 10 pm and 6 am, with stringent restrictions. He modified the starting date and timings in a later tweet.
“Midnight Mass on December 24 on account of Christmas can be held without any obstruction as per norms issued earlier,” he clarified in another tweet. In guidelines issued on December 17, the government had said organisers and supervisors at churches must ensure that a large number of people do not gather at a time and social distancing is maintained.
Parties, special DJ dance programmes and special events at clubs, pubs, restaurants and other places that attract people in large numbers without social distancing have been prohibited from December 30 to January 2. “All this will be applicable for the entire state. I request all public to cooperate in view of the new Covid-19 strain that has emerged,” Yediyurappa said.
The CM said all those travelling to the state and arriving at Bengaluru or Mangaluru airports from foreign countries must have a Covid-negative certificate through an RT-PCR test. The certificate must be obtained 72 hours before their departure time. All arrangements have been made at airport to conduct tests. Health staff have been deployed there to ensure no one enters the city without getting tested, he said.
Industries and factories that require 24 x 7 operations will be allowed to operate without any restrictions, but with 50% staff. An order issued by chief secretary
TM Vijay Bhaskar said movement of long-distance night buses, trains and flights will be permitted. To and fro movement of taxis and autos are permitted for dropping or picking up people to or from bus stops, railway stations and airports. It will be allowed on displaying valid tickets.
There shall be no restriction on the movement of all types of goods by truck, goods vehicle or any goods carrier, including empty vehicles.
Earlier in the day, health minister Sudhakar said all those who had arrived in the state from the UK since November 25 will be mandatorily monitored for 28 days and will be asked to quarantine themselves. “Those who have completed 14 days have to self-monitor till the 28th day. Those who have come in the past 14 days will be monitored by our government, department staff using technology. Those with symptoms will be made to undergo RT-PCR test,” he said.
If they test positive, samples will be sent for genetic sequencing at Nimhans to identify the strain, he said. A total of 2,500 people have come to the state since November 25 to December 22 on two flights —
Air India and British Airways — Sudhakar said, rubbishing senior Congress leader
HK Patil’s claim that 14,000 people had arrived.