Karnataka eases curbs in districts with less Covid load

The Karnataka government on Saturday relaxed lockdown restrictions in districts with less than 5 per cent Covid-19 case positivity rate. All shops and hotels, clubs, restaurants allowed to operate till 5pm. Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said that lodges, resorts, gyms, private offices will also be allowed to operate with 50 per cent capacity in 16 districts that have less than 5 per cent Covid-19 positivity. These relaxations will be in place from June 21 to July 5.

All shops in these districts - Belagavi, Mandya, Koppal, Chikkaballapura, Tumakuru, Kolar,Bengaluru Urban, Gadag, Raichur, Bagalkote, Kalaburagi, Haveri, Ramanagar, Yadgir and Bidar - can now open till 5 PM. "We have taken certain decisions on easing restrictions, based on the advice of the Technical Advisory Committee on COVID-19 and after discussions with my cabinet colleagues," Chief Minister Yediyurappa said. In 13 districts with a positivity rate between five per cent to 10 per cent, rules issued restrictions announced on June 11 will apply. These are Hassan, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Shivamogga, Chamarajanagar, Chikkamagaluru, Bengaluru Rural, Davangere, Kodagu, Dharwad, Ballari, Chitradurga and Vijayapura. Strict lockdown measures will continue in Mysuru district with an over ten per cent positivity rate.

The state government has allowed outdoor shooting and buses and metros can also operate at 50 per cent of their capacity. Outdoor sports without spectators will also be allowed. Taking a cautious approach to the easing of lockdown restrictions, the Karnataka government is continuing with night curfew - from 7 PM to 5 AM - and weekend curfew - from 7 PM Friday to 5 AM Monday - in the state till July 5. Karnataka on Saturday reported 5,815 new COVID-19 cases while the city's active cases stood at 1,30,872, according to the health department.