Bengaluru lockdown news: Today's updates

After deciding to impose a week-long lockdown on Bengaluru Urban and Rural districts, Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa is under pressure to extend the measure to the rest of Karnataka as the number of Covid-19 positive cases set to breach the 40,000 mark in a day or two.
Update at 11.15pm | The Karnataka government on Monday said shops selling essentials including milk, groceries and vegetables, would be permitted to open from 5 am to 12 pm in the city and outskirts during the week-long lockdown from Tuesday night to check rising Covid-19 cases.
Update at 10.30pm | Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Monday asserted that the 9-day lockdown in Bengaluru Urban and Rural districts from Tuesday would not be extended beyond July 22. "No proposal to extend the 9-day lockdown in Bengaluru Urban and Rural districts from 8pm on July 14 to 5am on July 22," said Yediyurappa in a statement after meeting concerned cabinet ministers and top officials here.
Update at 9.15pm | Ahead of the complete city-wide lockdown in Bengaluru starting from Tuesday evening, hundreds of people rushed back to their hometowns, an official said on Monday. "By 11 am, 333 buses have ferried 8,938 passengers from Bengaluru. The travelling public has been advised not to panic, we have planned for a sufficient number of buses for Monday and Tuesday," said a Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) official.
Update at 8.30pm | Karnataka reports 2,738 Covid-19 cases, 73 deaths in the last 24 hours. Total number of cases in the state is now at 41,581, number of deaths stands at 761, reports ANI quoting state health department.
Update at 7.30pm | There is no proposal to extend the week-long lockdown in Bengaluru urban and rural districts to be enforced from Tuesday night to check rising COVID-19 case, Karnataka chief minister B S Yediyurappa said on Monday, appealing to the people to cooperate and not pay heed to rumors.
Update at 7pm | Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) Chief HD Devegowda on Monday welcomed the state government's decision of lockdown imposition in Bengaluru city and rural areas starting from July 14. Devegowda said, "I welcome the state government's decision to impose a one-week lockdown in Bengaluru and Bengaluru rural districts to check the spread of the coronavirus."
Update at 4.30pm | Former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Monday said that the state government should provide vitamin C drug, Ayush Ministry-certified immunity boosters and sanitisers to every household in the wake of the coronavirus spread. "Karnataka government should provide vitamin C drug, Ayush Ministry-certified immunity boosters and sanitisers to every household to fight against Covid-19," Kumaraswamy told ANI.
Update at 3.30pm | Amid rising Covid cases and stretched medical infrastructure in Bengaluru, the civic body is seeking volunteer swab collectors and counsellors to advise the patients, an official said on Monday. "We are seeking volunteers to assist the testing teams in civic body area for counselling the Covid patients onsite, tele-counselling and also to volunteer as swab collectors," said Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Shalini Rajneesh.
Update at 12pm | Gadag police files complaint against HS Shivangouda, personal assistant of minister B Sreeramulu, for celebrating his birthday violating lockdown norms.
Update at 10am | 28,701 new Covid-19 cases & 500 deaths reported in India in the last 24 hours. Total positive cases stand at 8,78,254 including 3,01,609 active cases, 5,53,471 cured/discharged/migrated and 23,174 deaths: Ministry of Health
CT Ravi first state minister to test positive; kin await results
Karnataka tourism minister CT Ravi on Sunday became the first minister in the state to test positive for coronavirus. The Chikkamagaluru district minister said he is under home quarantine at his farmhouse outside the Malnad town. “I gave samples for Covid-19 tests thrice. First it was negative, but the second was positive. Result of the third test is awaited,” said Ravi.
Karnataka ramps up tests; July daily avg far better than June’s
Karnataka, which had come under criticism for not testing enough, has tested nearly 1.8 lakh samples in 11 days this month, at a daily average of 16,277, compared to 10,905 a day in the month of June.
From just 5% in June, positivity rate in Bengaluru rocketed to 20-22% in July
Karnataka’s Covid-19 curve has rocketed on each day in July, thanks largely to spiralling cases in Bengaluru, which has prompted the government to impose a seven-day lockdown beginning Tuesday night. Analysis of data for the 11 days in July shows that about 20-22 samples in every 100 returned positive — a rate that is three-four times that of June, when roughly five in every 100 tested positive.