From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, May 11: Karnataka is against allowing domestic and international air travel at least till the end of May.

In addition, the State Government has proposed that all international travelers must be placed under compulsory institutional quarantine for 14 days.

This was the highlight of the fifth video conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Chief Ministers of States on Monday.

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, has in his suggestion, has proposed that the present system of district-wise colour containment zones of Red, Orange and Green and instead restrict the areas where active Corona Virus pandemic cases have been reported as restricted containment zones, which shall be identified and strictly cordoned.

Further, 50 to 100 meters around known clusters of COVID-19 cases may be declared as containment zones.

Commercial activities including public transport to be allowed in Non-Containment Zones, as per the suggestion made by Yediyurappa.

The Chief Minister, according to an official press release, has also suggested that all inter-state travelers shall be placed under compulsory institutional quarantine and tested.

All inter-state travelers should be issued a health clearance certificate at the place of origin of journey by local authorities/hospital, those without a health clearance certificate to be placed under compulsory quarantine, he suggested.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by Deputy Chief Ministers Govind Karjol, Dr C N Ashwath Narayan and Laxman Savadi, Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar, Education Minister S Suresh Kumar and Chief Secretary T M Vijaya Bhaskar along with other senior government officials.

Karnataka moots 4 T model

Yediyurappa has proposed a ‘4 T’ model of Tracing, Tracking, Testing and Treating, that the State had been following and had resulted in keeping the numbers of COVID 19 cases comparatively low as compared to other states.

The State has also increased the number of testing facilities on war footing.

As against barely 2 labs with a testing capacity of about 300 per day in February, Yediyurappa said the State presently has 35 labs with a testing capacity exceeding 6000 tests per day.

“Our state recently crossed the 1 lakh tests milestone. We are on track to set up 60 labs by this Month End,’’ he said.

Till date, the State Government through detailed survey has identified and tested 4419 SARI cases and 12,525 ILI cases in the state for COVID-19. The Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences has helped in completing online training of 93,723 healthcare personnel across the state and have them ready to face any situation.

58k persons have downloaded Arogya Setu in State

The Chief Minister said a total of 58,10,813 persons have downloaded the Arogya Setu app in Karnataka.

The Arogya Setu has been integrated with Aptha Mitra for telephonic monitoring and treatments of suspect cases, Yediyurappa said pointing out that it was vital to educate the population with the right positive messaging.

“COVID-19 is unfortunately becoming a stigma in the minds of the people and it is our collective responsibility to educate the people that Corona virus is just like any other virus or flu, but it spreads more and effects people with co morbidity, who need to be protected,’’ he said.

The Chief Minister wanted the formulation of a Nation-Wide testing guideline to determine minimum number of tests per million to be carried out in each state.

“We must test those with symptoms and need hospitalization and make Tele-Medicine the new protocol to approach this Pandemic. Only those with severe Symptoms should be hospitalized,’’ he suggested.

Yediyurappa favoured resumption of all economic activities in stand-alone establishments and continue the restrictions on Malls, Cinema Halls, Dining facilities and establishments with centrally controlled Air Conditioning.

He also felt all persons above 60 years and below 10 years to remain indoors and to stay protected. People with comorbidity have to be protected with utmost care, he added.