The Karnataka government on Tuesday imposed weekend curfew and night curfew across the State and prohibited a range of businesses from functioning to contain the surge of COVID-19. The new pandemic-related stricture will be in place till May 4.
While the night curfew will be between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., the weekend curfew will be between 9 p.m. on Friday till 6 a.m. on Monday. The new restrictions come in the midst of a surge in COVID-19 cases in the State, as cases exceeded 21,000 on Tuesday, bringing pressure on the medical infrastructure.
Educational institutions, cinema halls, shopping malls, gymnasiums, yoga centres, spas, sports complexes, stadium, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres and bars have been brought under prohibited list till May 4. The guidelines ban social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious gatherings, and large congregation.
“While the curfew will bring life to a halt barring essential services, the rest of the days will see restrictions on business activities,” an official explained.
As per the order issued, all religious places/ places of worship will be closed for public though rituals and duties by the religious personnel concerned have been allowed. Restaurants and eateries, liquor shops, bars and restaurants will only have takeaway services. Retail businesses dealing with food, groceries, fruits, vegetables, dairy and milk booths, meat and fish, and animal fodder will be allowed to function.
Wholesale vegetable, fruit, flower markets will be allowed to function in open space/ playground and shifting such markets to open areas should be completed by April 23.
Banks, insurance offices, pharmacy, stock market services, barber shops, salons and beauty parlours, all construction activities and industrial activities have been permitted with COVID-19 appropriate behaviour. Stadium and playground will be open for sports events and practise without spectators.
While 50 persons have been allowed for marriages, 20 persons will be allowed in funerals. Petroleum outlets will be open fully, and all government offices, autonomous bodies and public corporations will function at 50 % capacity.
Departments dealing with emergency services, will however function at full strength. In IT/ ITES companies, only essential staff will work from office and rest will work from home, the guidelines said, adding that private offices should as far as possible encourage work from home.
Urging people to avoid unnecessary travel through private vehicles, the guidelines clarified that there is no restriction on inter-State or intra State movement of people and goods. Number of people travelling in buses, maxi cabs, tempo travellers and metro has been capped at 50 % of the capacity.
The measures came following a series of meetings, including the one chaired by Governor Vajubhai Vala on Tuesday.
