Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has said that the BJP government in the state would take the decision on extending the lockdown beyond June 7 depending on 'public cooperation'. The Karnataka government, on April 27, had first imposed lockdown-like restrictions for two weeks in the state.
The lockdown was to be lifted on May 10 but then was extended till May 24. The government later extended the lockdown till June 7. According to a report in Deccan Herald, BS Yediyurappa said, "If people cooperate, the question of continuing (lockdown) after June 7 doesn't arise. We will also decide depending on how cases decrease."
Earlier on Saturday, BS Yediyurappa declined rumours of the Karnataka lockdown extension and stated that there are no talks of it as of now. He also said that a decision would be taken regarding the issue on June 5.
Yediyurappa said that there are demands from various quarters to extend the lockdown but as of now his government is in no hurry to think on lines of extending the lockdown.
"No decision has been taken yet in terms of extending the lockdown in the state in view of the improving COVID recovery rate," the CM said after holding a meeting with the Ministers and bureaucrats. Bengaluru recorded less than 5,000 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, as Karnataka reported 20,628 fresh cases and 492 fatalities, taking the total number of infections to 25.67 lakh and toll to 28,298.
The total number of active cases in Karnataka stands at 3,50,066. While the positivity rate for the day was 14.95%, the case fatality rate (CFR) was at 2.38%.
