14-day state-wide lockdown begins in Karnataka

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], May 10 (ANI): Amid a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases in Karnataka, the 14-day statewide lockdown commenced in the state on Monday.

Police personnel were seen baton charging violators and seizing their vehicles in Shivamogga and Kalaburagi.

Commuters were also seen undergoing vehicle checks as the lockdown commenced from today.

To curb the surge of COVID-19 cases, the Karnataka government had on Friday imposed a complete lockdown for two weeks in the state from 6 am on May 10 to 6 am on May 24.

Informing about the move, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa had said eateries, meat shops and vegetable shops in the state can operate from 6 am to 10 am during the lockdown.

"As COVID-19 cases are surging in the state, corona curfew was not successful. So, a complete lockdown will be imposed from 6 am on May 10 to 6 am on May 24. All hotels, pubs and bars will remain closed. Eateries, meat shops and vegetable shops can operate from 6-10 am," the Chief Minister had said.

Yediyurappa had said it is a temporary decision of lockdown and requested migrant labourers to not leave the state.

However, he added, "not even a single person will be allowed after 10 am in the lockdown, I have suggested police officers to take stringent action. We have decided this after looking at the death toll and increasing number of cases."According to the Union Health Ministry, Karnataka was among the ten states that had reported 71.75 per cent of the new cases on Sunday. The state had reported 47,563 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, it said.

As per the ministry, Karnataka was among the 13 states that cumulatively accounted for 82.94 per cent of India's total active cases yesterday. The state had 5,48,861 active cases till Sunday, according to government data.

The ministry stated that Karnataka was among the ten states that accounted for 74.93 per cent of the new deaths on Sunday. The state reported second highest deaths in the country at 482 after Maharashtra. (ANI)