 "Bengaluru")
In a respite to citizens and businesses, the Karnataka government on Friday decided to lift week-end curfew that was in place aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19 infections.
However, the night curfew between 10PM to 5AM everyday, and all other COVID curbs including 50 per cent capacity in restaurants and other places will continue.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai today held a meeting with experts, and senior Ministers and officials of his government to assess the COVID-19 situation in the state and curbs that were put in place to control its spread.
"The week-end curfew on Saturday and Sunday is being lifted. This decision has been taken based on the experts' report and it is subject to conditions. Now the rate of hospitalization is about 5 per cent, in case it increases we will re-impose week-end curfew," Revenue Minister R Ashoka said.
Speaking to reporters after over a two-hour-long meeting, he appealed to people to follow COVID guidelines and precautionary measures.
"There has been demand from people, various organisations and political leaders from across party lines to lift week-end curfew, but we have taken this decision based on experts' reports. However, the night curfew between 10PM to 5AM every day will continue, along with a 50 per cent occupancy rule among others," he said.
The Minister also said that the restrictions on protests, rallies, fairs and events will also continue.
Justifying the decision on continuing the night curfew, Ashoka in response to a question said, "There is a need to restrict night activities like partying...COVID is still around."
With a surge in cases, the government had last week decided to extend the existing COVID curbs such as night curfew and the weekend curfew till the end of January.
The government was under tremendous pressure from citizens, businesses, organizations and political leaders across party lines including the ruling BJP, to end the weekend curfew.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister B C Nagesh, who was also part of the meeting, said as the positivity rate is high in Bengaluru, the government will decide on reopening schools and colleges in the city on January 29, while in other places they will continue to operate as they are doing now.
Except Bengaluru the decision to close schools will be taken by Deputy Commissioners of the district in consultation with Assistant Commissioner, Tahsildar, Taluk Health Officer and Block Education Officer, by taking into account school as a unit and not en masse. In case of high positivity at any school, it will shut for about seven days, and three days in case of less positivity.
"Luckily, as there is less positivity rate among children of 6-15 years, we will continue to operate schools as it is going on now (other than in Bengaluru). In four to five districts there were district specific restrictions, the Deputy Commissioners will review and take steps to reopen schools according to local situation," he added.
Noting that the COVID cases in the state are expected to increase further, in response to a question Ashoka said, "we have based our decision to withdraw week-end curfew on experts' report, what they (experts) are saying is, though the number of cases are increasing, the rate of hospitalization is in and around 5 per cent, for us rate of hospitalization is the yardstick."
He said, the government has taken the decision, scientifically, considering the whole state as one unit, and taking into account measures taken in the neighbouring states.
Ashoka noted that until January 20 there were a total of 2,93,231 active cases in the state, of which 2,86,000 are in home isolation. A total of 5,344 persons are in hospital, of which 340 are in ICU and 127 under ventilator support.
While the overall positivity rate is 19.94 per cent, the positivity rate among children is about 8 per cent and among adults is 16.57 per cent, he said, adding that the CM has directed special attention towards hospitalized children.
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