A policeman asks vegetable vendors to leave a market during lockdown to check the spread of the coronavirus.
As the 21-day nation-wide lockdown is nearing the end, the government is holding discussions on extending the lockdown as coronavirus cases continue to rise. Meanwhile, the Karnataka government is studying in-depth the consequences of a possible relaxation of lockdown norms after April 14 and plans to come out with a clear roadmap in a day or two, a key Minister said on Sunday. Earlier on Saturday, PM Modi in a video conference held with all the chief ministers of the states discussed road further to fight coronavirus and whether or not the lockdown should be extended.
Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar K, who is in-charge of all matters related to COVID-19, told PTI that the pros and cons of any decision that the Government intends to take is being looked at in detail. "We are trying to understand how the situation would be of any action that we intend to take. We need to foresee the repercussions or results of our action. That we have to keep it in mind and take a decision. After-effects of the decisions we intend to take, that is more important, he said. You will have clarity (on the possible relaxation of lockdown norms) in a day or two.
For everything (government decisions) we will give reasoning for what action we would like to take; with the reasoning we will give decision", the Minister added. Government sources said some relaxation in liquor sales, stopped during the lock-down period, is likely after the
ongoing 21-day national clampdown ends on April 14.
Twelve of the state's 30 districts remain free from the COVID-19 pandemic. Till Saturday, Karnataka reported 215 COVID-19 positive cases, including six deaths and 39 discharges.
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