From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jan 21: Finally, the weekend curfew on Saturdays and Sundays imposed in the wake of the surge in Covid/Omicron cases in the state has been withdrawn. However, the night curfew will continue throughout the week.

All other restrictions, will, however, continue as before.

Briefing the media reporters after a two-hour-long meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai at his home office, Krishna, on Friday, January 21, Revenue Minister R Ashok said the partial relaxation in the form of withdrawal of the weekend lockdown was based on the lower hospitalization rate and not on the Covid positivity rate.

“The hospitalization rate is at present below 5 percent. If it goes up, the state government will have to reintroduce stricter restrictions,” Ashok said.

The minister said the restrictions on 50 percent occupancy in hotels and restaurants, bars and pubs as well wearing of face masks, social distancing, sanitization etc. will, however, continue.

The ban on public gatherings, meetings or any kind of public protests will stay as before, the minister said.

The minister urged the people to be careful and adhere to the Covid appropriate behavior so that the government does not have to resort to harsher measures. “If the situation goes out of hand and the hospitalization rate crosses 5 percent, there is no alternative but to enforce strict measures to control the situation,” he said.

He explained that the decision on withdrawal of the weekend curfew was based on the opinion and advice of experts as also in response to the demands from different sections of people.

Apart from Ashok, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra, Primary and Secondary Education Minister B C Nagesh, Chief Secretary P Ravi Kumar, Technical Advisory Committee chief Dr M K Sudarshan and other experts and senior officials attended the meeting.