Passengers arriving in Bengaluru from any state must carry their RT-PCR negative report. The announcement was made by Karnataka Health & Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar on Thursday.
Speaking to the media, K Sudhakar said 1,400 cases of Covid-19 have been reported in Bengaluru in the last 24 hours. This was the city's highest single-day tally of new confirmed cases in the last four months.
Earlier, RT-PCR reports were mandatory only for passengers arriving from Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab and Chandigarh.
The same will now apply to all incoming passengers going forward, minister K Sudhakar said. The decision was taken after a Covid-19 review meeting held earlier in the day.
Handstamps to identify Covid-19 patients
In Bengaluru, authorities have issued orders restricting more than 200 people at a function held indoors. The limit for outdoor functions has been revised to 500.
Each ward in Bengaluru city has been provided with an ambulance. More will be made available depending on the number of active cases.
Held a meeting with senior officals at BBMP office to review the Covid-19 containment measures in Bengaluru.
— Dr Sudhakar K (@mla_sudhakar) March 25, 2021
Various matters including ramping up of vaccination, testing, effective contact tracing, availability of ambulances, beds, ICUs & deployment of marshals were discussed. pic.twitter.com/BLF04fr7wS
Protocols will be implemented for the care and treatment of infected persons, minister K Sudhakar told the media.
He also said that public places in Bengaluru that witness high footfall will be sanitised to control the spread of infection. Information regarding the availability of beds and ICUs will be made available online.
Handstamps will be put on all Covid-19 patients residing within BBMP limits.
"People's cooperation is crucial to make Namma Bengaluru Covid-free," Karnataka Minister K Sudhakar said.
Tracing 20 contacts of each Covid patient
The Karnataka government has decided to vaccinate persons aged 45 and above free of cost, K Sudhakar said. He added that mutant strains of the virus have been detected in as many as 700 cases in India so far.
BBMP Covid-19 War Room Bulletin dated 24-03-2021
— N. Manjunatha Prasad,IAS (@BBMPCOMM) March 24, 2021
Total Positive Cases : 421236
Total Recovered Cases : 405152
Total Deaths : 4564
Last 24 Hours
Total Positive Cases : 1398
Total Recovered Cases : 637
Total Deaths : 07 pic.twitter.com/wZrOChTedB
Experts say the mutant strain spreads faster than the original one, K Sudhakar told the media.
He appealed to the people to be careful for the next two months. "We are tracing 20 contacts of each person infected with Covid-19," the minister said.
Appeal to movie stars to help govt
Karnataka Minister K Sudhakar also said that he will speak to the Election Commission officials to restrict gatherings. "Elections are not insulated from spreading infection," he said.
We also requested movie stars to join hands with the state government in this fight, said the minister.
Karnataka has received 4 lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccine late last night and another tranche of 12 lakh doses is expected to arrive by this week. Measures have been taken to ensure that there is no shortage of vaccine in the state & I urge people to make the best use of vaccine.
— Dr Sudhakar K (@mla_sudhakar) March 25, 2021
A total of 400 beds have been reserved for Covid-19 patients at the Victoria hospital, K Sudhakar told the media. He added that the number of beds will be increased if the need arises.
RGICD, Bowring hospital and Charaka hospital will also be utilized for Covid-19 treatment if required, he said.
While the cases are not as many as they were in the beginning, the Karnataka government has also asked private hospitals to remain on standby, Minister K Sudhakar said.