Karnataka to take a call on zones, relaxations today

Bengaluru: The state government will decide on Covid-19 zones across the state and opening up other services on Monday. The government has bought itself some time to take a call on these things by extending the lockdown by two days. Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has called for a meeting with ministers and senior officials at Vidhana Soudha on Monday morning to finalise the state’s guidelines in line with the Centre’s latest relaxations.
The Centre’s decision to allow the delineation of the red, orange, green and containment zones has come as a relief to the state which has been eager to open up economic activities in the red zone of Bengaluru. When the state issues new guidelines in line with the Centre’s lockdown order, it is most likely to relax several restrictions in the technology capital including permission to operate BMTC buses, cabs and and autos with riders. The state may also allow KSRTC buses to operate inter-district and inter-state but with restrictions, as the Centre’s prohibition applies only to metro services with regard to the state. Although Yediyurappa’s government is keen to open gyms and swimming pools among other things, it may not be able to do so as the Centre’s lockdown extension guidelines have barred these activities. The state cannot permit dine-in restaurants to restart operations, and also metro services in Bengaluru will continue to be shut as per the central government order.

CITY HAS MOST CASES
Karnataka reported 55 new cases of the novel coronavirus and one death on Sunday, taking the state’s tally to 1,147. Most of the cases reported are with travel history to Maharashtra. The deceased person is a 54-yearold man from Udupi. He was admitted to the hospital with cardiac issues and later tested positive for Covid. Bengaluru has the highest number of cases (216), followed by Belagavi (114) and Kalaburgi (104).