3-day quarantine for travellers from Delhi and Chennai

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru: In yet another change in its standard operating procedure on returnees from other states, the Karnataka government on Monday said travellers from Chennai and Delhi will have to undergo three days of institutional quarantine followed by 11 days of home isolation.

Following a meeting with ministers and officials to discuss the surge in Covid-19 cases in the state, chief minister BS Yediyurappa said, until now, only those arriving from Maharashtra had to mandatorily undergo seven days of institutional quarantine, while there was no such measure for people without symptoms arriving from other states.

“But now we have decided to quarantine people coming from Chennai and Delhi in institutional facilities for three days as these two cities are witnessing a surge in positive cases,” Yediyurappa said. “These travellers will also have undergo 11 days of home quarantine.”

He said restrictions were imposed also because cases in the state have seen a big increase after borders were opened. “Now we have to tighten measures to check the surge,” Yediyurappa said. Of the total 7,000 cases in the state, the CM said 4,386 are returnees from Maharashtra while 1,340 are their contacts.

While admitting there are indications that infections are expected to increase in days to come, Yediyurappa said the government has no plans to impose another lockdown and that his government, in fact, is requesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for more relaxations.

In the backdrop of the growing number of positive cases in Bengaluru, Yediyurappa said the government has made special efforts to control the spread of the virus and has constituted a special taskforce for Bengaluru and surrounding areas.

HOPEFUL WAIT: Migrant workers wait around at KSR Bengaluru railway station on Monday, hoping to board trains to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar

MASK DAY ON THURSDAY

The government has decided to observe ‘Mask Day’ on Thursday and a group of film actors and sports personalities will come together at Ambedkar Bhavan in Bengaluru to spread awareness on the need to wear a mask. “Action will be taken against those who flout the rule,” CM Yediyruappa said.

HC DECLINES PIL

Meanwhile, the Karnataka high court on Monday declined to entertain a PIL which contended that in Indian conditions, use of mask is unscientific and making it mandatory to wear one is against Article 21 of the Constitution.

The PIL was filed by a resident of Bengaluru. A division bench headed by Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka noted that is not the job of the high court to decide such issues which fall under the domain of experts.