Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)
Bengaluru, Mar 22: Chief minister B S Yediyurappa on Sunday March 22 urged people in cities not to visit rural areas and smaller towns for the next 15 days so as not to spread coronovirus pandemic, which, as of now, has been mostly reported from urban and semi-urban areas.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a call to observe Janata Curfew in order to contain the dreaded coronavirus pandemic. People of the state have given wholehearted support to his call. I congratulate the people of Karnataka on their cooperation," Yediyurappa told reporters here.
He further said, "I have been holding discussions with ministers and officials since early this morning. Discussion was also held on converting Victorial hospital, which has 1,700 beds as a special facility for coronovirus infection. It has been decided to shift the patients, who are already admitted in Victoria hospital to somewhere else.
"The health department is ready to conduct tests on 200 people for every 10 lac population in the state. The taskforce team will work in tandem with a team of senior officials. It has been decided to check local and international travellers," he added.
CM Yediyurappa also said that the Balabrooie guest house at Sankee Road of the city will be converted as a 'corona war room'.
"There is no need for people to panic under any circumstances. Do not worry about food grains. The government will take care of these things. It has been decided to give ration of two months together," said the CM.
Yediyurappa also urged city dwellers not to go to villages for 15 days at least. He said that villages are free of the coronavirus infection now, and urged those who are living in the city not to spread infection by visiting villages.
The CM also said, "Elections for local bodies has been postponed. So also SSLC examinations that were supposed to start from March 27. It has been also decided to seal all the borders of the state.
"It has been decided to give permission to all private and government hospital to test people for coronavirus. Action has been taken to increase the capacity of lab tests. It has also been decided to test all those who are in contact with the infected people. This work will be carried out at district-level by taskforce in each district."