The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike has set up a command and control centre ‘war room’ to tackle the coronavirus epidemic in the city. In the first such directive from the cell, the residents are requested to dispose off masks and gloves in a sealed cover separately. In addition, cashless transactions are encouraged to reduce transmission through currencies.
The BBMP is forming hundreds of teams for stamping thousands of people who came from foreign locales. So far, 25,000 people have been stamped, and counting.
In addition, the government has ordered a complete lockdown of the city due to India entering stage 3 of the COVID-19: community transmission. To avert more damage, public transport is withdrawn, and only cabs and autos are allowed to ply for emergency services. People congregating for no reason are not allowed. Similarly, people walking or driving on the streets is discourages unless it’s to buy essential supplies.
All shops, commercial establishments, offices, workshops, godowns are ordered shut, except those who are offering or supplying essential goods and services, like takeaway counters of restaurants, agricultural suppliers, and so on.
The Bangalore police and the BBMP officials are working in tandem to trace, stamp and educate those who landed in Bangalore 14 days ago and put them under home quarantine.
TESTING EVERYONE NOW
Earlier, only those with symptoms were being tested. But a new government order by the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services of March 22 mandates testing everyone who is coming from abroad, even if they don’t show any symptoms.
FREE FOOD FOR THE POOR
The government has ordered all Indira canteens across Karnataka to give food to the poor for free.