Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Mar 21: Health experts have recommended closing schools, colleges, gyms and swimming pools for at least two weeks in the wake of rising number of coronavirus cases in the state.

Meeting in this regard was held by coronavirus control technical advisory committee. Sources said that the decisions arrived at the meeting have been conveyed to health and medical education minister Dr Sudhakar. These suggestions are likely to be implemented soon after the health minister holds discussions with respective ministers and CM.

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A health expert said, "As the chances of coronavirus infection spreading is more in schools, colleges, gyms and swimming pools, these facilities need to be closed for two weeks. For indoor and outdoor programmes only 100 and 200 people should be allowed respectively. Only 50% seating capacity should be allowed in Cinema halls and multiplexes. These recommendations have been given to the health minister."

Meeting of the coronavirus technical expert committee is holding meetings once a week since the beginning of March. Complimentary to this, the cases of coronavirus infection have doubled in the state. The possibility of more stringent actions are expected to be implemented next week. However, chief minister B S Yediyurappa has ruled out another lockdown.

Last week daily new cases were in and around 900. This has doubled this week, with 1,798 new cases reporting on Saturday, March 20. Seven people have also died. The positivity rate which was less than one percent in the beginning of March has shot up to two percent. This means that coronavirus positive is being detected in every two out of 100 people who are being checked. At present, there are 12,828 active cases in Karnataka.

Apart from Maharashtra and Kerala, Karnataka is third in the country where new coronavirus cases on daily basis are being reported. In Maharashtra, the daily cases are in the range of 25,000 while in Kerala it has touched more than 2,000.