From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jun 25: With rapid rise in the number of COVID 19 cases and fatalities in Bengaluru, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has asked the citizens to behave and cooperate in strictly abiding by the social distancing and sanitization norms if they do not want another lockdown or sealing down to be imposed.
Talking to media in Bengaluru on Thursday in the backdrop of Karnataka’s Health and Family Welfare Minister B Sriramulu hinting on Wednesday about the likelihood of another lockdown, the Chief Minister appealed to the people to cooperate with the authorities as the situation was very grim in the city.
The Chief Minister said he will continue to hold discussions with ministers, officials and elected representatives of all political parties on the alarming rise in the number of cases, infections and fatalities in Bengaluru.
Officials were directed to take necessary steps for immediate admission of patients who are tested positive. They should not be kept in waiting for long. Currently 100 ambulance vehicles are available and it was decided to enhance the number as and when required.
Highlights of the Meeting
• Ministers were directed to hold meetings with Private Hospitals regarding providing treatment in Private Hospitals.
• To ensure availability of beds in hospitals as per the increase in COVID 19 cases, it was decided to provide treatment to moderately symptomatic in COVID care centers and to asymptomatic persons in Haj Bhavan and Private Hotels.
• It was decided to create a digital platform to provide real time information about availability of beds and details about beds allotted to patients, to avoid any kind of confusions.
• Currently, the recovery rate in the state is 61 per cent and there are only around 3700 active cases.
• Chief Minister directed officials that Departments should work in coordination to reduce inconvenience to people.
Seriousness of the situation
Bengaluru has already reported a total of 1,685 cases of coronavirus so far of which 418 people have recovered and 75 have succumbed to death.
There are over 500 COVID-19 containment zones across the city currently. In the last 24 hours, Bengaluru reported over 170 fresh Covid-19 infections. "This is very worrisome,’’ Yediyurappa said.
Karnataka’s COVID-19 tally has crossed the 10,000-mark. A total of 164 people have lost their lives while 6,151 patients have recovered from the disease in the State.
On May 31, under lockdown 4, Karnataka reported 3,200 COVID-19 cases, of which Bengaluru accounted for over 350 cases. Under ‘Unlock 1’, on June 24, Karnataka’s COVID-19 tally crossed the 10,000-mark while Bengaluru reported over 1,600 cases in total as per official figures.
The Chief Minister had convened an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss measures to control the surge in COVID-19 cases in Bengaluru. He had directed the officials strictly implement lockdown measures in the clusters which have reported more number of infections. Accordingly, a strict lockdown has been implemented in the clusters across Bengaluru that have reported a large number of COVID-19 cases.
"COVID pandemic is increasing, we are making all efforts and we have even sealed some areas. I have called a meeting with Ministers and officials and will discuss the strict measures to be taken to control pandemic,’’ Yediyurappa said.
The city's busy K R Market and Kalasipalya Market have been sealed for 15 days by BBMP as part of measures to check the spread of the deadly virus.
Yediyurappa said, the State Government has taken all measures for the safe conduct of SSLC (class 10) exams from and students should come out and write exams for their bright future.
Deputy Chief Ministers Dr C N Ashwatha Narayan and Govind M Karjol, Revenue Minister R Ashok, Ministers V Somanna, B Sriramulu and Byrathi Basavaraj, Chief Secretary T M Vijaya Bhasakar and other senior officials attended the meeting convened by the Chief Minister to discuss the situation in Bengaluru.