From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jul 3: With Karnataka showing signs of coming out of the severity of the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic, especially with the new infections coming down drastically and the positivity rate sliding to a low of 1.34% and the death rate falling to 4.13%, chief minister B S Yediyurappa on Saturday announced Unlock 3.0 norms under which the weekend curfew will be withdrawn and the duration of the Night Curfew being reduced to 8 hours from 9 pm to 5 am and allowing almost all normal business activities.

Cinema halls, theatres and pubs will remain closed even as all shops, restaurants, malls, private offices, government offices are allowed to be open fully subject to strictly enforcing Covid appropriate behaviour failing which action will be initiated under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

Even as Metro train services and other modes of public transport are allowed to be fully operational to 100% of seating capacity, the chief minister said all social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions as well as other public gatherings or large congregations are prohibited.

The present restrictions on marriages, family functions and funerals or cremations have been relaxed. While marriages and family functions are permitted subject to a maximum participation of 100 people, for funerals, cremation and burials etc. will be allowed with a maximum attendance of 20 people.

Swimming pools are allowed to function only for training purposes and sports complexes and stadia shall be opened only for practice.

All religious places such as temples, churches, mosques etc. are allowed only for darshan but not for any kind of services.

All educational institutions, schools, colleges and tutorials shall remain closed and a decision on reopening of the schools and colleges will be taken later depending on the situation, the chief minister said.

Deputy commissioners of the districts are permitted to make decisions based on their assessment of the situation and after consultation with the cistrict-in-charge minister for imposing additional containment measures.

All the relaxations and restrictions shall be in force for the next 15 days till 5 am on July 19, the chief minister said promising to review the situation before July 19.

The chief minister appealed to the people to strictly abide by the Covid appropriate behaviour like compulsory wearing of masks, maintaining social distancing and sanitation and not to treat the relaxations as a licence for moving around freely as the first priority of the state government is to control the spread of pandemic and protect citizens.

The decisions on Unlock 3.0 were taken at a meeting of senior cabinet ministers during which top government officials were also present at the chief minister’s official residence Cauvery, which began at 5.30 pm and lasted for almost one and half hours.

Details of official guidelines given below: