Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)
Bengaluru, April 11: Lockdown to fight coronavirus pandemic, which is in place in the state will continue till April 30. Fishing is exempted from the lockdown.
Giving information on this matter, chief minister (CM) Yediyurappa said, "Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has conducted video conferencing with all the chief ministers of the state on Saturday, April 11 for four hours. All the CMs have urged the PM to continue the lockdown. Accordingly, the lockdown in the state of Karnataka also will continue till April 30."
The coastal districts can heave a sigh of relief as fishing is relaxed from the lockdown regulation.
Earlier, PM Modi had four to five minutes of video conference with chief minister B S Yediyurappa and discussed many points. CM Yediyurappa conveyed to PM Modi about the report that is prepared by Dr Devi Shetty whether to continue with the lockdown in the state after April 14 or not.
Yediyurappa also updated PM Modi about the decision that is taken in the state cabinet meeting that was held on Thursday. The CM also appraised Modi about the decision of the state government to deal with people who deny taking treatment for Covid-19 infection and also those who behave indecently with doctors and healthcare personnel.
Modi was also told that the state of Karnataka is with the union government with regards to extending the lockdown period. The CM also said that the state government has taken all necessary steps to deal with lockdown period if the same is continued after April 14.
In addition, CM Yediyurappa also discussed about 'seal down' of danger zones in the state. On the whole Yediyurappa said that the state government is with the PM in whatever decision he or the union government takes on the Covid-19 pandemic issue.
In return Modi advised Yediyurappa to withhold the grant of state budget and use the funds to fight against coronavirus. Modi also advised Yediyurappa to make arrangements for sufficient number of ventilators for the next six months for the treatment of rising number of infected patients. He also said that the state should be ready with ventilators, the number of which should be minimum five percent of the population of the state.
On the whole, Modi asked B S Yediyurappa to take all steps to prevent the spread of coronavirus pandemic. PM Modi is expected to address the nation any time after 7 pm on Saturday, April 11.
Claiming that everything was under control in his state in its fight against coronavirus, Yediyurappa said PM Modi gave tips to deal with the ongoing nationwide lockdown.
"We are doing well and everything is in control to fight COVID-19. The Prime Minister gave suggestions to deal with the lockdown situation," tweeted Yediyruppa in Kannada after his interaction with Modi through videoconference from here.
State cabinet ministers also attended the videoconference Modi had with chief ministers of all states across the country on the steps to be taken to contain the coronavirus as the 21-day lockdown was slated to end on April 14.
"We discussed vital strategies and actions to implement in our state. We will do everything in our control to tackle the crisis. Measures to control the infection were also discussed," he said in another tweet.
He also urged the people to stay at home and maintain social distancing.