A decision to further ease lockdown restrictions in the state after June 21, when the current restrictions end, will be made on Saturday, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said.

“The situation is improving. There is also a possibility of a third wave in the future, but despite this we will have to allow some relaxations. We will discuss this in a meeting tomorrow night and make a decision,” said Yediyurappa to reporters. Friday.

According to official sources, the government could announce relaxations in 11 districts where containment measures have continued, while further relaxations in terms of the movement of people and the opening of businesses could be announced in the 19 districts remaining in from June 21.

The government released new guidelines last week extending the COVID-induced lockdown in 11 districts, which have a high positivity rate, until June 21, where citizens were allowed to purchase essentials between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. .

Relaxations were announced in the 19 remaining districts from June 14, allowing the opening of essential shops from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the movement of people until 7 p.m.

He also imposed the COVID (daily) curfew from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. and the weekend curfew from 7 p.m. on Friday to 5 a.m. on Monday.

The 11 districts where strict lockdown measures have been maintained are Chikmagalur, Shivamogga, Davangere, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada, Bengaluru Rural, Mandya, Belagavi and Kodagu.

The Karnataka government initially announced a 14-day “shutdown” from April 27, but subsequently imposed a full lockdown from May 10 to 24, as COVID cases continued to rise.

Citing the lockdown giving results and expert advice, it was extended until June 7 and then again until June 14.

Meanwhile, the chief minister and a few ministers today held discussions with officials about precautionary measures to be taken in the event of flooding, due to monsoon rains in the state.

Yediyurappa said Maharashtra’s irrigation minister will visit the state on Saturday and hold talks with him.

The release of excess water from Maharashtra’s dams during heavy rains usually causes a flood-like situation in the border districts of the state.

Yediyurappa said he would also hold a videoconference meeting on Saturday with deputy commissioners from 20 districts regarding monsoon preparedness and preventative measures to be taken in the event of flooding.

Noting that the state is receiving good rains and the farmers are involved in the sowing activities, he said measures have been taken to ensure the availability of seeds and fertilizers without any shortages.

(Only the title and image of this report may have been reworked by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)

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