Lockdown not solution for COVID-19, says Karnataka CM Yediyurappa

Karnataka CM B S Yediyurappa has said that imposing a lockdown is not the solution for controlling the spread of COVID-19 infection. He made it clear that there would not be lockdown in Bengaluru from tomorrow and people can resume their daily activities.

Bengaluru (Karnataka):Lockdown is not the solution for controlling COVID-19 and resource mobilisation equally important for a government to function, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Tuesday said as he ruled out an extension of the week-long shutdown in the city and elsewhere.

Highlighting the recent spike in cases, he reiterated his government's earlier stand that people who came from states such as Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra with high caseload added to the COVID tally in Karnataka.

Addressing the people of the state through YouTube and Facebook, he stressed on maintaining social distancing and wearing masks and said experts have advised 5T strategy -- trace, track, test, treat and technology -- to control the coronavirus spread.

"We had been successful at the beginning in controlling the COVID, but in recent days especially in Bengaluru, the COVID cases have increased.....I want to tell the people of the state that for the control of the virus, the lockdown was not the solution. The solution is wearing masks and maintaining social distancing," Yediyurappa said.

Appreciating COVID warriors like doctors, nurses, paramedic, Asha (health) workers among others for their tireless efforts, putting their own lives at risk, he said: "If we have to live defeating the virus, we have to follow the guidelines and precautionary measures prescribed....action will be taken against those violating (the norms)."

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The Chief Minister's address came at a time when the state has been witnessing a spike in cases and on the eve of the end of week-long lockdown imposed in certain parts mainly in the state capital to control the spread.

Yediyurappa also made it clear that there would not be lockdown in Bengaluru from tomorrow and people can resume their daily activities.

Amid the spike in cases, Bengaluru Urban and Rural districts were brought under "complete lockdown" from 8 pm of July 14 to 5 am on Wednesday aimed at controlling the spread.

A few other districts too had announced lockdown during this period after the cases increased since June 1 when the Unlock-1 phase started and people stranded in other states and foreign countries returned to Karnataka.

As of Tuesday, cumulatively 71,069 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 1,464 deaths and 25,459 discharges. Bengaluru Urban tops the districts with a total of 34,943 infections.

"For a government resource mobilisation is equally important, so we have to take all precautions and move on towards easing the financial crisis," the Chief Minister said.

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"Lockdown is not the solution to control COVID-19, there won't be lockdown in Bengaluru or any other part of Karnataka from now on. People will be allowed to carry on their activities," he said.

However, strict measures will continue in containment zones, he added.

He noted that when the lockdown was eased earlier, COVID-19 cases increased in Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka as
people came from other states such as neighbouring Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu which had more infections.

Yediyurappa said 'all honest' measures were being taken to control the spread of the virus and appealed to those infected not to lose hope and resort to extreme measures like suicide.

During the address, he rejected opposition Congress' allegation of misappropriation to the tune of over Rs 2,000 crore in the purchase of COVID care equipment, saying "not even a rupee has been misused."

Opposition leaders were free to examine the documents and the government was ready to share it with them.

"At this time of difficulty instead of unnecessary criticism, give constructive suggestions on address in issues....we should work unitedly in addressing issues faced by people," he added.

He said all confusions relating to the treatment of COVID patients and those who require dialysis and in need of medical attention for various illnesses not related to the virus.

"Asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients have been advised for home isolation or to go to COVID care centres. This will also ensure beds for the seriously ill," he said, adding only five per cent among the infected require ICU or ventilator support.

More than 80 per cent of the infected were asymptomatic, he said.

In Bengaluru, a total of 11,230 beds, including 4,836 in private hospitals and 2,624 in COVID care centres, have been reserved for treating the patients.

Centralised system for bed allocation and real-time dashboard were available, he said, adding steps had been taken to ensure that reports come within 24 hours after giving a sample for testing. Also, ambulances are being made available at the booth level.

Inputs from agency