Beneficiaries receive their first jab at Karnataka Public School, Bengaluru. (Express Photo: Jithendra M)Bangalore Highlights: Karnataka on Thursday recorded 5,031 Covid-19 cases and one death. The capital Bengaluru alone registered 4,324 infections taking the positivity rate to 7.5 per cent. However, the positivity rate of the state overall remained lower at 3.95 per cent. No new Omircon cases were detected in the state. The total Omicron count in Karnataka is at 226.
Earlier today, Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar said that people need to be cautious for the next four to six weeks to control a possible third wave of Covid-19 and the spread of Omicron variant in the state.
“New COVID guidelines have been released after a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister. My appeal to the people is, four to six weeks is crucial. As we have observed worldwide, it is declining in five to six weeks. This wave will not be for too long, like in the first and second wave that was for three to four months,” Sudhakar was quoted as saying by PTI.
The Karnataka government has also announced that it will impose a weekend curfew and extend the night curfew for two weeks in the state in view of the alarming rise in the number of Covid-19 cases.
All coaching institutions including those for classes 10th, 11th and 12th standard in Bengaluru urban district will remain closed till January 19, the Department of Public Instruction said.
With bicycle repair shops slowly disappearing despite the humble cycle growing popular in Bengaluru, a state government agency has set up a Pedal Port, a self-service kiosk to repair cycles.
The Directorate of Urban Land Transport, which claims to be the only such agency in the country, opened its first Pedal Port at the Dr B R Ambedkar metro station’s exit near Vidhana Soudha.
The project was piloted at Church Street when it was made pedestrian-friendly last year. A senior official explained that Pedal Port is a first-of-its-kind initiative where cycle pumps and tools such as tyre levers, Allen keys, screwdrivers, and spanners are available for self-service. “Cyclists can fix their cycle tyre punctures, fill air or even tighten seat posts,” the officials said. Read more
A 28-year-old Covid positive patient who had arrived from the United Kingdom (UK) and was quarantined at the Manipal Hospital in Doddaballapur area of Rural Bengaluru has managed to escape from the hospital, authorities informed.
The incident took place Monday but came to light when Dr Karthik B D of Manipal Hospital filed a complaint Tuesday. According to the police, the man had tested positive at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) Monday upon arrival and was subsequently shifted to the hospital.
The patient managed to escape from the hospital during the daytime, the police said, adding, it is still unclear whether the patient had contracted the Omicron variant. Read more
A special court in Bengaluru on Thursday has ordered five years imprisonment to a man who was involved in fake currency circulation. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) which had probed the case had filed chargesheet.
The covicted person is named as Shahnoyaj Kasuri. The case which was originally registered in March 2018 where the police officials had recovered 41 fake Indian currency notes having face value of Rs 82,000. NIA had submitted three chargesheets in the case. The court on Thursday pronounced judgement after Kasuri was found guilty. Kasuri was booked under IPC 120(b), 489 (b) and 489 (c).
Enforcement Directorate has arrested Anand Balakrishna Appugol, Chairman of Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Urban Co-operative Credit Society, Belagavi City under PMLA, 2002 in a case of cheating public money to the tune of Rs. 250 Crore.
Karnataka on Thursday recorded 5,031 Covid-19 cases and one death. The capital Bengaluru alone registered 4,324 infections taking the positivity rate to 7.5 per cent.
As the Coronavirus cases are increasing rapidly in the city, BBMP Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta has instructed the officials to take up necessary measures regarding the bed reservation for Covid-19 patients at private hospitals- in accordance to the government’s order immediately.
Addressing a virtual meeting to discuss Covid Hospital Bed Management System(CHBMS) in BBMP limits, today, the chief commissioner said that, the rise in the number of covid 19 cases in the city might form fear in general public; but the fear is unnecessary.
With the proper arrangements of beds at hospitals, both government and private, in accordance to the Centre’s order, the conditions would be tackled efficiently. There are around 60,000 covid tests are being taken up daily in the city. Daily admission rate (number of people getting admitted) at hospitals has seen an increase from 20 to 60 admissions per day.
But, the infected persons need not be worried. BBMP’s tele triaging team and mobile triaging team of concerned ward will check the health conditions of the infected. Only the infected-to whom hospitalization is necessary, will be admitted to hospital. other may continue with home isolation, the chief commissioner said.
Tunnel Boring Machine named Vamika, a slurry based machine launched on June 29, 2021 at South Ramp (Dairy Circle) completed its tunnelling of 614 meters and reached Dairy Circle Metro Station on 3 January this year.
TBM Vamika is driving through the Station area for further tunnelling between Dairy Circle to Lakkasandra Metro Stations. TBM-Avni, a slurry based machine, launched on 5 September, 2020 at Shivajinagar Metro Station completed its tunneling length of 1086 meters on Thursday by achieving breakthrough at M.G. Road Station.
TBM-Avni encountered hard boulders for a length of around 280 meters, wherein tunneling was extremely challenging and required very frequent interventions.
This TBM will drive through the station area for further tunneling between M.G. Road to Rashtriya Military School Stations.
A police sub-inspector was suspended in Karnataka on charges of gross negligence in the probe of a rape of a minor in Mangaluru city.
Mangaluru city police commissioner N Shashi Kumar said that PSI Rosamma has been suspended in connection with a POCSO case that was reported last year in July. A head constable was arrested for misbehaving with a minor girl.
In another incident, five staff from a women’s police station have been suspended for allegedly consuming alcohol and partying in office. It came to light when a video started doing the rounds where the police personnel were seen consuming alcohol and dancing. An inquiry was ordered where the CCTV footage of the station and report submitted by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Hariram Shankar and ACP South subdivision Ranjith Bandaru showed that the accused staff were indeed under the influence of alcohol dancing in the police station.
Two assistant sub-inspectors, two head constables and a police constable were suspended in connection with the incident.
The state health department has directed the BBMP, airport and seaport authorities to identify designated buildings with necessary facilities, attached to Government Health Facilities which shall function as Government Covid Care Centres (CCCs) to manage
asymptomatic and mild symptomatic cases and for which the stay is free of cost for the passengers.
The following arrangements shall be made for all international arrivals from At Risk countries and 2% of passenger arrivals from Non- at risk countries mildly who test positive for Covid -19 at the airports, but are asymptomatic or symptomatic.
'identified budget hotels, 3 star and 5 star hotels attached to Private Health Facilities shall function as Private CCCs on payment basis for passengers.
However, those who develop symptoms during their stay at CCCs shall have to be immediately shifted to the Health Facility for further treatment and management. The duration of stay in CCC/Hospital ( Institutional isolation) shall be for 7 days,' the circular signed by D Randeep, health commissioner read.
A 19-year-old youth was stabbed to death in Bengaluru Tuesday after a brawl broke out between friends over the alleged non-payment of Rs 1,200 which was reportedly borrowed by one of the youths of the group from one of his friends, the police said.
The deceased, identified as Mohammed Jilani, was a resident of Konanakunte and worked as a TV mechanic. The incident took place Tuesday when Jilani was in Amruthnagar with his friends.
The police said, a youth of the group identified as Mani had allegedly borrowed Rs 1,500 from a friend named Lalith a year ago. However, he managed to return only Rs 300 and Tuesday, a brawl broke out between the friends over the unpaid amount. Soon, local residents rushed to the spot and stopped the fight. Read more
With Congress deciding to go ahead with its 'padayatra' (march), demanding implementation of the Mekedatu project across the Cauvery river, despite the government's COVID-19 restrictions, Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra on Thursday warned of action in case of violation of rules.
An unfazed Congress' state president D K Shivakumar and Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Siddaramaiah reiterated that they will go ahead with the padayatra and said they are ready to go to jail, in case the government arrests them.
The Congress' march from Mekedatu to Bengaluru, covering a distance of over 100 kilometres, demanding implementation of the Mekedatu project, which is being opposed by neighbouring Tamil Nadu, is scheduled from January 9 to 19.
'They (Congress) are not behaving like a responsible opposition, at the time when the state is amid a pandemic. How to behave is left to them, people are watching. Not doing anything (on Mekedatu) for six and half years while in power, they are now saying they will agitate for the sake of water. During normal situations they had every right to do it, but this is not the time,' Jnanendra said. (PTI)
As many as 26 police personnel in Bengaluru city have tested positive for Covid-19 during the third wave. The city police sources said that all of them who have tested positive had received both the doses of Covid vaccine.
According to police sources, till Wednesday, the count was 12 but on Thursday, 14 police personnel from city market police station tested positive. Of the 43 police personnel who underwent Covid-19 test, 14 tested positive which include a police sub-inspector, three assistant sub-inspectors and 10 police constables.
With bicycle repair shops slowly disappearing despite the humble cycle growing popular in Bengaluru, a state government agency has set up a Pedal Port, a self-service kiosk to repair cycles.
The Directorate of Urban Land Transport, which claims to be the only such agency in the country, opened its first Pedal Port at the Dr B R Ambedkar metro station’s exit near Vidhana Soudha.
The project was piloted at Church Street when it was made pedestrian-friendly last year. A senior official explained that Pedal Port is a first-of-its-kind initiative where cycle pumps and tools such as tyre levers, Allen keys, screwdrivers, and spanners are available for self-service. “Cyclists can fix their cycle tyre punctures, fill air or even tighten seat posts," the officials said. (Read more)
The Karnataka government on Wednesday ordered special surveillance measures, including a negative RT-PCR, for people coming to the State from Goa in view of the rise in Covid-19 there.
In its order, the government said the negative RT-PCR certificate not older than 72 hours must be produced by the passengers travelling on flight, bus, train or personal transport to Karnataka. This is also applicable for passengers boarding connecting flights from Goa, the order said.
It further said the airlines concerned should issue boarding passes only to the passengers carrying the negative certificate. (PTI)
Just in: All flyovers in Bengaluru city will be closed during weekend curfew and night curfew, says city police commissioner Kamal Pant.
A Karnataka Minister on Wednesday said there is no proposal before the State government to seal the border anywhere in the State, including Maharashtra.
"Those coming to the State will undergo Covid-19 test and they will be under observation. There is restriction on the infection persons. Otherwise, there is no restriction on business activities and commuting," Karnataka Higher Education Minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan told reporters here. "There is no proposal before the government to shut down the border," he added. (PTI)
With surging coronavirus cases in Karnataka, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday asked the BJP cadre to involve themselves in Covid management in the state.
"I have asked the BJP workers to actively involve themselves in Covid management in the interest of public health," Bommai told reporters after a meeting with party state president Nalin Kumar Kateel and other office bearers. Bommai said BJP workers have been asked to involve themselves actively in the campaign to tackle the spread of Omicron, the new variant of the novel coronavirus.
They can play a role in providing useful information to the public, spreading awareness about precautionary measures, assisting in quarantine, getting ambulance services and vaccination, he said. (PTI)
The Karnataka government on Wednesday demanded that the Centre set up a monitoring team to resolve the problems faced by ethanol manufacturers in implementing Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme.
In a meeting with Union Food Minister Piyush Goyal here, Karnataka Minister for Sugar and Sugarcane Development Shankar B Patil Munenakoppa shared the problems faced by ethanol makers in detail and requested for setting up a monitoring team comprising officials from the Union food ministry, State Cane Commissioners, OMCs and NABARD.
The Karnataka minister also said there is a need to have a long- term pricing formula to encourage setting up or capacity enhancement of ethanol as it will help reduce uncertainties of return on investment for ethanol production. (PTI)
he Karnataka government aims to develop industries in Belagavi region and create an ecosystem that is supportive to the growth of industries as well as entrepreneurship, a state minister said on Wednesday.
Making these remarks at the 'CEOs Conclave' organised by Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) as part of the 'Beyond Bengaluru' initiative, Minister for Information Technology, Biotechnology and Skill Development C N Ashwath Narayan said the state government has planned to achieve becoming a USD 400 billion digital economy in the next five years through the development of 'Beyond Bengaluru' clusters in the state, which also includes Hubli region. (PTI)
Brief update: Vayu vajra bus services from Bengaluru city to Kempagowda airport will be operated normally on weekends, despite the weekend curfew.
Around 80 per cent of adult population in #Karnataka is now fully vaccinated with both doses of Covid-19 vaccine, according to state health minister K Sudhakar.
Of the 4,246 fresh Covid-19 cases reported in Karnataka on Wednesday, 3,605 are from Benglauru. The state capital also reported two deaths — of a 72-year-old woman and a 15 year-old-girl. The total positivity rate for the day was 3.33 per cent and case fatality rate was at 0.04 per cent.
The total active cases in the state are 17,414, of which 14,762 are in Bengaluru.
On the night of January 4, state health minister K Sudhakar said the state has logged 149 new Omicron cases, taking the total tally of the variant to 226.
Ramping up the daily testing, the state health department reported that 127,328 Covid tests were conducted Wednesday.
The cases almost doubled from Tuesday, when the tally was 2,479.
Out of the total cases reported in Karnataka, Bengaluru reported 3,605 cases of Covid-19. The positivity rate in the city has spiked to over 6.45 per cent. Bengaluru now accounts for 85 per cent of Karnataka's cases.
Karnataka on Wednesday reported 4,246 new cases of Covid-19. Out of the new cases, 3,605 were reported in Bengaluru. The positivity rate in the state stands at 3.33%. Presently, 17,414 active cases of Covid are in the state.
The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has said that it will reduce services, but operate buses during the weekend curfew in the state.
Interstate travellers to Karnataka from Goa, Kerala and Maharashtra must carry an RT PCR negative report regardless of vaccination status. Night time services to be decided based on online booking, KSRTC said in a release.
Tension prevailed at a state-run college in Balagadi village in Karnataka’s Chikkamagaluru district after a section of students turned up wearing saffron scarves and asked their female Muslim classmates not to wear hijab during classes.
College Principal Ananth Murthy told The Indian Express that a meeting with the parents of students has been called to resolve the issue. “With Covid-19 protocols in place, we are unable to hold a meeting but I have written a letter to the deputy commissioner and superintendent of Police seeking permission to hold it on January 10,” he said. Read the full report here.
Bengaluru Metro trains will run during the weekend curfew but with revised timings, the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) said in a statement.
"On weekday i.e. Monday to Thursday, there are no changes and train services will be available as usual from 5 am to 11 pm with reduced frequency," it said. On Friday, however, the services will be closed at 10 pm.
Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar on Wednesday said people need to be cautious for the next four to six weeks to control a possible third wave of COVID-19 and the spread of Omicron variant in the state.
The minister called on the people to follow the guidelines and containment measures announced by the government and cooperate with the administration.
“New COVID guidelines have been released after a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister. My appeal to the people is, four to six weeks is crucial. As we have observed worldwide, it is declining in five to six weeks. This wave will not be for too long, like in the first and second wave that was for three to four months,” Sudhakar said. (PTI)
In view of the weekend curfew, BMTC suspends bus services for next two weekends -- Jan 8-9 and Jan 15-16 -- in Bengaluru.
However, 10 percent operations will be available from 6 am to 10 pm only for the people working in essential services.
A blueprint to build new Bengaluru with all amenities is being prepared. Government would provide special grants for its implementation, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said at a function to lay the foundation stone for an IT park project from GM and Advitiya Group.
Bengaluru which is witnessing rapid growth needs a roadmap to develop it in a planned and integrated manner. "We are drafting new projects to deliver civic amenities to all sections of the society. We have taken up 4-5 programmes which are part of the 'Bengaluru Vision 2022' which was presented during the tenure of former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. Several measures have been taken for their speedy execution," Bommai said.
Mumbai police on Monday detained a 21-year-old engineering student, Vishal Kumar Jha, from Bengaluru in connection with the hate app case. Two others — 18-year-old Shweta Singh and 21-year-old Mayank Rawal — were arrested from Uttarakhand for allegedly posting obscene and derogatory content on an application, which hosted doctored photographs and objectionable comments targeting Muslim women in the country.
Jha was studying in a well-known engineering college in South Bengaluru. The head of the department of the college where he was studying said Jha had been on campus since October 4, when offline classes resumed.
“A group of people came to the college around 11.30 am on Monday and introduced themselves as policemen. They showed their ID cards and asked for Vishal and explained briefly about the case. He was attending a class and was called to the faculty chamber from where he was taken into custody,” said the faculty member. (Read more)
Dr Shivakumara Swamiji Flyover, popularly known as Goraguntepalya Flyover, in Bengaluru will stay closed for vehicle movement until January 14.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had shut the flyover till January 3, 2022 after the authorities discovered that two cables had rusted at the 8th Mile of the flyover during an inspection conducted last month.
Bengaluru traffic police have requested the motorists to take alternative roads till the work on flyover is completed. “Vehicles coming from Tumakuru to Bengaluru should take a right turn at Madavara and enter the city via NICE Road. While commuters traveling from Bengaluru towards Tumakuru Road are advised to take a left turn at the CMTI Junction in Goraguntepalya, and then proceed on the Ring road towards Magadi Road and enter NICE Road to exit the city,” a traffic official said.
State health minister K Sudhakar said that Karnataka has vaccinated 7.96 lakh children in the age group of 15-17 years in just two days. "That is 25% of the total target population of 31 lakh in this age group.Hopeful of completing this in the next week to 10 days," he said.
Hotels Associations in Karnataka have opposed the state government's decision to impose night and weekend curfew.
Bruhat Bangalore Hotels Association President PC Rao has called the move unscientific and requested the government to rethink over the matter.
With rising COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra and Kerala, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday said checkposts will be set up in places where there are village-to-village contacts between Karnataka and neighbouring states.
He also said the police station under the jurisdiction will be responsible for such checkposts. "Our experiences since the first and second wave have been that the infections in Karnataka rise whenever Covid-19 cases spiral in our neighbouring states, with whom we have daily business activities. We have to focus on that area," Bommai told reporters.
When asked about the laxity in the border regions, the Chief Minister said the border is vast and checking is happening at the main checkposts only. However, there are contacts with neighbouring states at the village level. (PTI)
Among various scientific terms that the Covid-19 pandemic has made part of the public vocabulary, one is the ‘Ct value’ in RT-PCR tests for determining whether a patient is positive for Covid-19.
This was the subject of a recent request sent by the Maharashtra government to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The state sought clarity whether it was advisable to treat a person as Covid-negative if the Ct value is more than 24 and the person is asymptomatic. State officials said various ICMR documents had mentioned different Ct values and there were divergent views even among Niti Aayog and the National Centre for Disease Control. (Read more)
The South Western Railway (SWR) has adopted 120 point of sale (POS) machines from State Bank of India to promote Digital Payments on board trains.
Already 330 POS machines are present over SWR at Unreserved Ticketing System/ Passenger Reservation System counters, Parcel offices. 'Now for the first time 120 POS machines are received from SBI for use by TTE/Ticket Checking Staff. 40, 50 and 30 machines will be deployed in Hubballi, Bengaluru, Mysuru divisions respectively, ' said General Manager of Southern Western Railway Sanjeev Kishore.
According to SWR, the POS machines provide flexibility of payment options to passengers. Ticket Checking staff can realise the dues through digital payments from the passengers when cash is not available with the passengers.
'In the period of COVID pandemic Iike situation, it provides contact less & safer mode of payments,' Kishore added.
Kishore said that it will also eliminate human errors by minimising human interference and speed up transactions, while helping keep real-time track of cash flow and easy maintenance of records.
Schools and colleges in Bengaluru except medical and paramedical colleges will remain closed from Thursday (06-01-22). The restriction is not applicable for 10, 11, and 12th classes.
Karnataka government announced a weekend curfew in the entire state starting Friday amid the rising Covid-19 cases.
The weekend curfew will be imposed from 10 pm on Friday till 5 am on Monday in the entire state, said Revenue Minister R Ashoka.
The recruitment process to fill up 14,000 posts in the Kalyana Karnataka region will soon be initiated, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai told mediapersons upon his arrival at the Kalaburagi airport Tuesday.
The Hyderabad- Karnataka region, which has been renamed as Kalyana Karnataka region comprising Bidar, Ballari, Kalaburagi, Koppal, Raichur and Yadgir, enjoys a special status under the Constitution (Article 371J) owing to its backwardness. The name Kalyana RPT Kalyana comes from the Kingdom of Kalyana, which was the epicentre of Sharana movement and Vachana Sahitaya preached and followed by several social reformers, including Basvanna. Read more
The Bengaluru traffic police seized 349 vehicles between December 28 and January 4 during the night curfew imposed from 10 pm to 5 am as part of Covid-19 restrictions.
Cops seized 305 two-wheelers, 11 three-wheelers and 18 four-wheelers according to a release by Bengaluru Traffic police on Tuesday. Read More
As the covid 19 cases are increasing in the city, BBMP Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta instructed the Chief Health Officer Dr. Balasundar to identify 1 Covid care center each in all Assembly constituencies.
The BBMP chief today inspected the covid care center established at Kempegouda community hall in Nandini layout
Karnataka logged 2,479 new Covid-19 cases today of which 2,053 are from Bengaluru. While the positivity rate increased to 2.59 per cent, the state also witnessed four deaths. The state had on Monday recorded 1,290 infections and five deaths.
BJP workers staged a protest in front of the house of Congress MP DK Suresh in Bengaluru on Tuesday. The protest was held after DK Suresh and BJP Minister Ashwath Narayan clashed on stage in front of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai at a public event in Karnataka’s Ramanagara district on Monday.
Earlier in the day, a section of BJP had held a protest demanding the dismissal of minister Ashwath Narayan.
With rising COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra and Kerala, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday said checkposts will be set up in places where there are village-to-village contacts between Karnataka and neighbouring states.
He also said the police station under the jurisdiction will be responsible for such checkposts.
"Our experiences since the first and second wave have been that the infections in Karnataka rise whenever COVID-19 cases spiral in our neighbouring states, with whom we have daily business activities. We have to focus on that area," Bommai told reporters. (PTI)
Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar on Tuesday insisted upon special measures for Bengaluru amid an alarming rise in COVID-19 cases in the city.
Stating that the third wave of COVID-19 has set in, Sudhakar predicted that the state capital will be an epicentre of the latest outbreak.
"Taking special steps in Bengaluru has become very necessary. Bengaluru is an epicentre. It was an epicentre in the first wave and second wave. It will be the epicentre during the third wave as well," Sudhakar told reporters here. (PTI)
Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar said that the BJP is trying to stop the Mekedatu padayatra citing Covid-19.
"The BJP may forcefully impose a lockdown to stop the padayatra. If the BJP applies restrictions for the Congress, our leaders will continue with the padayatra,” he said.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, hinting at restrictions due to the rise in Covid cases in the state, said that the rule is equal for everyone, including Congress leaders. "Padayatra on Mekedatu by the Congress is politically motivated, " Bommai added.
At a time when the BJP government in Karnataka is pushing to bring in a law that frees temples from state control, official state data showed that temples received the highest allocation of funds under the BJP than any other party that was in power in the last five years.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai announced at a recent meeting of the BJP state executive committee that he plans to bring in a law to ensure that temples are “managed independently'' and are not subjected to financial controls under the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act of 199.
“Hindu temples are subjected to various controls and rules. Permission are needed from officials to utilize temple funds. We will free temples from laws and conditions. We will ensure that they are managed independently,” Bommai said on December 29. (Read more)
Witnessing a further surge in daily Covid-19 cases, Karnataka on Monday reported 1,290 fresh infections and 5 deaths, taking the count to 30,10,847 and the death toll to 38,351.
Of the new cases, 1,041 were from Bengaluru Urban, as the city saw 134 discharges and 3 deaths. The total number of active cases is now at 11,345.
The state has registered a steady surge in fresh infections for the sixth consecutive day, since last Wednesday, when the daily caseload was 566. (Read more)
Faced with fresh Covid-19 threats, the Karnataka government is considering more containment measures to control the spread of the virus and the state cabinet is likely decide in this regard, later this week after consulting experts.
The government has already imposed containment measures like "night curfew" from 10 pm to 5 am, since December 28 till January 7 morning, to control the spread.
"We are monitoring both Covid and Omicron situation, it is spreading at a very fast pace in the country, in the state and in neighbouring states, so we need to have a discussion with experts. In this regard I will have a discussion with experts tomorrow evening," Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Monday. (PTI)
Amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the liquor and beer sales in Karnataka saw an increase in the period between April and December 2021-22, compared with the corresponding period in 2020-21.
The Karnataka Excise Department achieved a 15 per cent increase in revenue collection of Rs 19,306.44 crore in revenue between April and December last year, compared to Rs 16,786.78 crore in 2020-21.
According to excise department data, the retailers sold 41.72 million carton boxes of liquor in the previous April-December period, while they sold 15.6 million carton boxes of beer in the same period last year. The numbers increased by 2.8 million boxes this year. (Read more)
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Welcome to the live blog from Bengaluru where we bring to you the latest updates on Basavaraj Bommai, Karnataka politics, Covid-19, BBMP and more across Bengaluru and Karnataka. Follow the blog and @IEBengaluru to stay up to date with the state in real time.