From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Mar 16: Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who held a video conference with the Deputy Commissioners of all districts in State on Monday on the coronavirus (COVID-19) global epidemic, instructed all officers to ensure that the precautionary measures announced by the State Government for a week were strictly adhered to in order to prevent escalation of the situation.

Deputy Chief Minister Govind M Karajol, Home Minister Basavaja Bommai, Minister for Medical Education Dr K Sudhakar, Chief Secretary TM Vijayabhaskar, Additional Chief Secretary Jawaid Akhtar and other senior officials of the Department of Health and other senior officers were present.

The Chief Minister said entry is prohibited to tourists in Mandya, Mysuru, Vijayapura, Ballary, Koppal and Kodagu districts. He also instructed to keep Homestays under scrutiny.

Additional Laboratories will be established in Mangaluru and Kalburgi districts as per the guidelines issued by the Central Government, he said.

Foreign tourists and people who have returned from foreign tours are screened thoroughly. 

It is instructed to conduct District level Task Force meetings on a daily basis and take stock of the situation, he said and asked the people to seek cooperation from private Medical Colleges in districts where there is no Government Medical College. 

It has been instructed to establish Help Desks in Railway Stations, Bus Stands and Check posts at the border areas of the State.

As people visit the temples in large numbers all shanties and Jathras have been prohibited, he said instructed to take precautionary measures.

Instructions have also been given to avail medicines from Karnataka Drugs Logistics Company.

He said screenings are being undertaken at Railway Stations and Bus Stands

There is demand to supply additional ventilators to Bidar and Vijayapura districts, he said pointing out that measures to supply are being taken. Super markets have been permitted to open doors to facilitate purchase of essential commodities.

Officials have been directed to make sure that the public are not put to unnecessary difficulty while taking precautionary measures.

All suspected cases of COVID -19 are to be treated at the district level and steps to create additional facilities at Bengaluru are also being taken.

The Chief Minister said cleanliness and supply of safe drinking water to the people must be ensured at all public places.