Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Apr 7: Karnataka has been gearing itself up to affectively tackle challenges which coronavirus pandemic is expected to pose in the coming days. In view of the adversities heaped by the disease on the human race, many are of the opinion that the government may decide against lifting of the lockdown for the present.

As per the current assessment of the experts in the field, the number of coronavirus-affected persons in Karnataka is set to rise steeply by April end or May first week. The government has drawn up an elaborate plan to tackle this challenge. Procurement of PPE kits for the doctors, ventilators, setting up of isolation wards, preparing railway coaches into wards fitted with ventilators etc are going on at a brisk pace.

The state is taking these steps with the notion that the disease might peak during the end of this month. The government, which is preparing for the situation, may not like to invite danger by lifting the lockdown at this juncture. Therefore, in all likelihood, the lockdown period might be extended, sources said.

The current lockdown period will end on April 14. But the people of the state have not standing up to expectations of the government in maintaining social distance during lockdown period. During their visits to shops and markets to get vegetables and provisions, they are not showing any commitment to stay away from each other. As such, coronavirus cases are likely to go up. In addition, the number of people getting this infection from among those who took part in the Tablighi Jamaat convention at Delhi is also showing a tendency towards proving positive for the presence of this disease.

Experts are advising against easing lockdown in phases as the lockdown is not strictly being followed now. They fear that if the lockdown is lifted, the infection may spread rapidly and things might go out of hand. They feel that the state will stand to benefit if the lockdown period is extended till the month end. They think that if the initiative is lost at this stage, all the efforts done so far might go waste. The government is likely to follow their advice.

The government has supplied 1.43 lac personal protection equipment kits and is preparing to supply 9.8 lac more such kits. Orders for procurement of 1,570 ventilators have been placed. The railways has been joining hands with the state by creating wards in railway coaches. These preparations that are going on a war footing give an indication that the lockdown period might just be extended.

Even if the lockdown is lifted, it might come with certain riders like IT-BT companies can allow only 25 percent of its workforce to work at any given point of time to maintain social distance, and asking non-essential services to remain locked for more time. National Disaster Response Force has also entered the scene to tighten the rules. It has asked the police to use powers vested under National Disaster Management Act 2005. This instruction was given to director general of police Praveen Sood by vice president of Disaster Management Committee R Ashok. Police are now empowered to register cases under the said act against lockdown rule violators.