Bengaluru: Karnataka Government decided to continue existing lockdown rules for the next two weeks in an emergency meeting held with experts regarding the third wave of Covid-19.

The meeting with the experts has been scheduled soon after the chief minister’s return from his official tour to Dakshina Kannada district on Thursday.

According to reports, there was a serious discussion about reopening schools and colleges, and there was a mixed response to the move.

After the meeting Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said, "Schools to be reopened in districts with less 2% infection rate. No reopening in districts more than 2% infection rate. Parents, teaching and non-teaching staff should get Covid vaccine".

Read: NCW urges states/UTs to close gender gap in COVID-19 vaccination

The government has decided to open six genome labs in Bangalore, Mysusu, Shivamogga, Belagavi and Kalaburgi districts to identify Covid Delta variant.

The experts committee has stressed on increasing the Test, Track and Trace process to tackle spread of the virus.

There were reports that the government was likely to impose partial lockdown in the state from August 16. Speaking to The Times of India, the chief minister had said that he does not want to impose a lockdown again and trouble people as he believes that prevention is better than cure.

What are the existing lockdown rules?

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, on August 8, the Karnataka government imposed a night curfew across the state from 9 pm to 5 am. The curfew was imposed in districts bordering Maharashtra and Kerala, namely Belagavi, Bidar, Vijayapura and Kalaburagi, Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu, Mysuru, and Chamarajanagara. Also, the government said the night curfew to be imposed in Ballari and Vijayanagara districts. 

All social, political, sports, entertainment, cultural, religious functions and other gatherings and large congregations will continue to be prohibited.

Marriages and family functions are allowed with 100 people with COVID-19 guidelines, while cremation and funerals are permitted with 20 people. 

Religious places like temples, mosques and churches would be allowed to open, the order said, adding that Jathres, temples festivals, processions and congregations will not be allowed.

Covid-19 numbers in Karnataka today:

New cases in State:1,632

New cases in B'lore: 377

Positivity rate: 1.04%

Discharges: 1,612 (B'lore- 365)

Deaths:25 (B'lore- 01)

Active cases in State: 22,698

Active cases in B'lore: 8,200

Tests:1,55,989