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BS Yediyurappa junks lockdown even as Karnataka’s Covid-19 tally crosses 71K
Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa said the focus will be on the economy and rebuilding livelihoods.
Karnataka chief minister B S Yediyurappa said Tuesday that lockdown is not a solution for the Covid-19 pandemic and that his government would now focus on the economy to help rebuild livelihood
“Lockdown is not a solution. There is no question of lockdown either in Bangalore or any other district in the state, he said in an address to the state.
The CM also said that normal economic activity would resume across the state from Wednesday except in containment zones.
The CM’s address was seen as an attempt to bring clarity and to end uncertainty after the state had implemented a week-long lockdown in Bengaluru urban and rural from July 14 to July 22 to check rising cases of Covid-19. Apart from Bengaluru, five other districts in the state had implemented lockdowns of varying periods.
“We will focus on the economy and help rebuild livelihoods….Restrictions will remain only in containment zones. All others across the state will fully return to normal economic activity,” the CM said.
Yediyurappa also said that the recovery rate of Covid-19 patients in the state is 98% and there is no need to panic.
The CM’s statement not to enforce lockdown in any part of the state came on a day when Karnataka registered 3,649 new Covid cases taking the total to 71,069 cases which includes 25,459 discharges and 1,464 deaths. Bengaluru continued to report the bulk of the cases with 1,714 new infections on Tuesday.
But Yediyurappa sounded confident of tackling the pandemic saying, “Trace, track, test, treat and technology will be the 5T mantra in the state to fight Covid-19.”
The chief minister asked people to follow social distancing and wear masks to stop the spread of the disease. He warned of strict action against those who do not wear masks in public
He also sought the opposition’s cooperation in combating the pandemic and insisted that there has been no corruption in the drive against Covid-19.
“All purchases are transparent and the is no corruption We will provide any details and documents sought by opposition within 24 hours. Not one rupee has been misused,” he said.
Earlier this month, senior Congress leader and former chief minister and leader of opposition in the Karnataka assembly Siddaramaiah had alleged that there was a Rs 2,200 crore scam in the purchase of Covid-19 related equipment.
Meanwhile,Medical Education minister Dr K Sudhakar after a meeting of the Covid taskforce on Tuesday said that the rates for testing for has been fixed at Rs 2,000per person if they come through government referral and Rs 3,000 per person ifthey directly approach a private lab.
In another development, KPCC President D KShivakumar said that if the government failed to meet the demands of ASHAworkers in the state who are protesting for the last 12 days demanding enhancedpay and insurance cover, the Congress party would join hands with them toensure justice to Covid warriors.
