Two-week lockdown begins in Karnataka to curb Covid-19 pandemic

“The 14-day lockdown has come into effect from Tuesday night and will continue till May 12 morning to break the chain of Covid transmission across the state and reduce the number of Covid cases,” an official said here.

Grocery shops as well as shops selling fruits, vegetables and other essentials made brisk business this morning during the relaxation between 0600 hrs and 1000 hrs.

As per the stringent guidelines issued in an order by Chief Secretary P Ravi Kumar on Monday, the lockdown will force people to stay home, as public transport, including buses, taxis, autos and private vehicles will not be allowed to operate over the next two weeks except for 4 hours during the day.

“As notified, people will be able to buy their daily needs for 4 hours from 6-10 a.m., as markets and shops selling essential needs like milk, groceries, eggs, fish, meat, vegetables and fruits are allowed to function,” said the official.

As night curfew from 2100 hrs to 0600 hrs has been in force across the state since April 20 to May 4, it will continue till May 12 morning with essential services and select economic activities exempted from the lockdown.

“Police had a tough time to prevent movement of all types of vehicles except for emergency purposes when a patient needs to be rushed to hospital for treatment,” noted the official.

Racing against time before the lockdown began, thousands of people, including migrants rushed during the day to railway stations and inter-state and intra-state bus terminals in cities across the state to reach their native places within the state or in the neighbouring states.

Fearing that the 14-day lockdown may be extended if Covid cases don’t decline by May 12, hundreds of families, especially bachelors and students left this tech city with luggage to their homes in towns and villages across the state.

“Schools, colleges, cinema theatres, malls, gyms, hotels, restaurants, bars, pubs, clubs and non-essential shops will remain shut during the lockdown,” said the official.

Students appearing for scheduled exams are, however, allowed to travel in their own or private vehicles with their hall ticket as pass to commute.

Banks, ATMs, insurance offices, e-commerce firms, facilities in the supply chain of essential goods, cold storage and warehousing are allowed to operate during the fortnight shutdown.

Even in the state government officials are working with minimum staff and the rest were asked to work from home.

Hotels, restaurants and eateries are permitted to operate only kitchens for take-aways or home delivery of food items. Service will not be allowed in their premises.
All public transport, including KSRTC, BMTC and Metro suspended their services.

The roads of the city wore a desert look as lockdown is now once again in place and will only be relaxed between 6 am and 10 am to enable people to purchase essentials. Similar situation in the small towns in various districts.

Inter-district movement of passenger vehicles and buses will also be permitted only in emergency cases adhering to guidelines issued by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, the order on Monday night.

Scheduled flights and trains will be permitted to operate, and flight and train tickets will serve as passes for the movement of passengers through taxis, cab aggregators and auto rickshaws. Movement of public and private buses or vehicles will not be permitted outside the stated guidelines.

Airport buses and taxis can continue to operate with valid travel documents and tickets displayed by the passengers. Autos and taxis, including cab aggregators, can also operate for travel related reasons and emergencies.

Students traveling for exams will be able to use admission tickets as travel passes.
Officers and personnel can travel with a valid work ID to their place of work and back as permitted by the guidelines. Officials and district judiciary in the state attending office hours beyond office hours can also move with a valid ID card.

Passes should be issued to construction workers by the concerned agencies. Patients and attenders will also be allowed to move for emergency purposes. People will also be allowed to travel to receive their vaccinations and COVID-19 tests, with minimal proof.