Chief Minister seeks Centre’s nod to vaccinate teachers

Bengaluru:  Ruling out imposition of fresh lockdown or night curfew in the State, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has said no procession, protest rally and dharna will be allowed across the State for the next 15 days in the wake of surge in Corona positive cases.

Chairing a high-level meeting to take stock of the situation here yesterday, the CM said this rule will be strictly implemented and those who defy will face action as per law. There is no dearth of funds and the Government has released Rs.150 crore for COVID-19 management. The co-operation of citizens was required to check the spread of this pandemic by strictly following the safety protocols.

Categorically ruling out the closure of Schools and Colleges, the CM said the Government has no such proposal as exams will begin in next 15 days. Besides, there was no intention of promoting students from 1st to 10th std. without exam as mentioned by a section of media. However, the Government of India will be requested to vaccinate teachers of all ages because of their contact with children and also in the wake of a few students testing positive for Coronavirus in some Schools.

He stressed on the strict implementation of rules especially in the apartments than in slums due to spike in Corona cases. Of late, apartments were emerging as clusters which has forced the Government to ban hosting of parties in apartment complexes or on poolsides. In fact, Leader of Opposition in the State Legislative Assembly, Siddharamaiah has given several suggestions to check the pandemic which included strict vigil on group housing complexes where the safety norms were flouted. 

The Corona positive rate which was 0.9 per cent in February has now risen to 1.45 per cent in the State. In Maharashtra, 40,000 new cases were reported daily whereas it was around 3,000 cases in Karnataka. 

“We cannot be complacent about the current situation and need to be careful since COVID-19 second wave has begun in the State,” he said.

The CM said the State has 15,882 active cases and instructions have been given to ramp up RT-PCR test in all places. Visitors from Kerala and Maharashtra must be allowed inside the State only after producing negative report. The checking on border areas must be intensified and none should be allowed inside without frisking. The services of Revenue and Education Department staff were used in tracing primary contacts and each one has been given a target of 30 traces.

Other decisions

• To ready 100 beds at Haj Bhavan and 250 beds in Koramangala Indoor Stadium. Both to start functioning from April 5.

• To reserve 1,166 beds in Bengaluru Urban and Rural District Hospitals. Steps will be taken to increase the number of beds depending upon the condition. Even Private Hospitals will be requested to be ready.

• No decision yet on capping 50 percent of seats in theatres.