Karnataka allows movement of stranded, industrial activities; Reports 30 new COVID-19 cases

Bengaluru, Apr 30 () Migrant workers, students,tourists and others stranded in Karnataka due to COVID-19lockdown will be able to return home with the state governmenton Thursday giving the nod for a one-time movement while 30new cases were reported, taking the tally to 565.

It also resolved to permit industrial activities acrossthe state barring coronavirus containment zones from May 4,when the second phase of national lockdown is expected to end.

By May 4, fresh directives were likely to come from theCentre, following which a decision will be taken on moreeconomic activities like opening of salons, liquor shops,malls and cinema halls among others, the government said.

Announcing the Cabinet decision to allow inter-state andinter-district movement of people, which came a day after theCentre issued guidelines for the process, Law andParliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy said this willbe a one-time measure and the government would arrange busesfor those in need but they should bear the expenses.

He also said people willing to return to the state wouldhave to undergo tests for COVID-19.

According to the latest health department bulletin,cumulatively 565 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmedin the state as of 5 pm on Thursday and it included 21 deathsand 229 discharges. Of the 314 active cases, as many as 305 are in isolationat designated hospitals and are stable, while nine inintensive care units.

Thirteen patients, including seven from Mysuru and threefrom Bengaluru Urban, were discharged on Thursday.

Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said the government hasdecided to allow industrial activities across the statebarring coronavirus containment zones from May 4.

There were total 123 containment zones in Karnataka tillWednesday evening.

He however said, government would wait and take a call oneasing curbs for industrial activities in the state capital.

Earlier, the state government had on April 8 decided toconditionally allow economic activities to restart in greenzones by opening of shops and industries.

Yediyurappa said as the COVID-19 cases may continue foranother 2-3 months, both economic activities and efforts tocontrol the pandemic have to go hand-in-hand.

Later in the day, he held a meeting with members ofvarious associations of commerce and industries and suggestedthem to be prepared for resuming industrial operations.

Appealing to industrialists to pay wages or salaries tothe employees, he asked them to take all precautionarymeasures for the safety of workers in their factory premises,and also assured the government will consider their demandscompassionately and respond keeping in mind, the constraints.

Among 30 new cases reported on Thursday, as many as 14are from Belagavi, ten from Bengaluru Urban, two fromVijayapura, and one each from Davangere, Dakshina Kannada,Kalaburagi and Tumakuru.

Contact tracing wasin progress for all the cases, thehealth department said.

From across the state most number of infections have beenreported in Bengaluru Urban district with 141 cases, followedby Mysuru 88 and Belagavi 67.

Out of total 229 patients discharged so far maximum 63are from Mysuru, 61 from Bengaluru, 11 from Chikkaballapura.

A total of 60,156 samples, including 4,752 on Thursday,had been tested so far with 57,548 of them reporting negative,the bulletin said. KSUVS VS