Fears over the mutant coronavirus strain having found its way here from the United Kingdom have forced the Karnataka government to impose a night-time curfew across the state.
Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa announced that the night curfew will be enforced starting today (December 23), from 11 PM to 5 AM, until January 1. (The earlier duration of the night curfew – beginning December 23 until January 2, from 10 PM to 6 AM has been subsequently revised)
The Chief Minister requested the public to cooperate to contain this new coronavirus strain. He said that the decision to impose night curfew was taken after inputs from the Centre and the technical advisory committee. It is also mandatory now for all international passengers travelling to Bengaluru or Mangaluru international airports to secure a RT-PCR negative certificate 72 hours in their host nation prior to departure.
The Health Minister Dr. K. Sudhakar said that no festivities and functions will be allowed after 10 PM. He added that about 2,500 people travelled from the UK to Karnataka from November 25 to December 22, and that they had all been traced.
The Maharashtra government imposed a night curfew in municipal areas in the state on Tuesday. The decision to impose night-time curfew by these states comes despite the NITI Aayog saying that the mutant strain was no cause for panic.