RT-PCR negative report mandatory for passengers arriving in Bengaluru from any state: K Sudhakar
Bengaluru, Mar 25: Passengers arriving from any state to Bengaluru must be in possession of RT-PCR negative report, Karnataka Health and Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar said on Thursday.
The Minister who held a meeting to review Covid-19 containment measures in the city, said it has been decided to hand-stamp infected persons residing in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits.
"Nearly 1,400 cases have been reported in Bengaluru (on Wednesday), which is the highest in the last 4 months.
There is a spike in cases everyday. It is increasingly found in passengers arriving in the city from other states," Sudkar said.
"As of now, restriction is for Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab and Chandigarh. But now going forward, it is applicable to all states," he was quoted as saying by his office in a release.
A restriction of 200 people for functions in closed premises and 500 people for functions in open space premises has been imposed, the Minister said adding every ward has been provided with one ambulance.
It can also be increased depending on the number of cases, he said.
"Certain places which have high footfall and dense public places will be sanitized to control the spread. Information regarding the availability of beds and ICUs will be made available online.
People's cooperation is crucial to make Namma (our) Bengaluru Covid-free," he added.
Noting that it has been resolved to hand-stamp infected people residing in BBMP limits, Sudhakar said even young and asymptomatic persons can spread the infection if they go out.
To control such movements it is decided to stamp on hand.
Elections are not insulated from spreading infection and it is important to restrict gatherings, he said and assured that he would speak to Election Commission officials in this regard.
"We have also requested film stars to join hands with the government in this fight against Covid."
Bypolls to Belgaum Lok Sabha seat, and Basavakalyan and Maski assembly segments will be held on April 17, and the counting of votes will take place on May 2.
Highlighting that mutant virus has been reported in India and it is found in 700 people so far, he said according to experts it spreads faster than the original one, and therefore it is requested to be careful for next 2 months.
"We are tracing out 20 contacts for each infected person," he said, adding that the government has also spoken to private hospitals to be on standby, though the cases are not as huge as it was in the beginning, they have to be ready.
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India-bound LPG tanker clears Hormuz
New Delhi (PTI): A tanker carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for India has sailed out of the Strait of Hormuz and is now headed towards the country, an official statement said on Sunday.
The Marshall Islands-flagged LPG carrier MT Sarv Shakti, loaded with 46,313 tonnes of LPG and staffed by 20 crew, including 18 Indians, cleared the key shipping chokepoint on May 2 and is expected to reach Visakhapatnam on May 13, it said.
The cargo -- enough to meet half a days requirement of the country -- will partly tide over supply constraints being faced since the start of the West Asia conflict more than two months back.
Ship-tracking data showed its position in Oman Gulf on Sunday evening.
The very large gas carrier has previously made runs between the Persian Gulf and Indian ports, has been chartered by state-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC).
Sarv Shakti is the first India-linked tanker to cross the war zone since a weeks-old US blockade of ships tied to Iran began, pushing transits through Hormuz back down to almost zero.
There are as many as 14 Indian flagged or India-owned vessels still stranded on the west side of the Strait of Hormuz.
The statement said no incident involving Indian-flagged vessels has been reported in the past 24 hours. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is working closely with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions and maritime stakeholders to ensure crew welfare and uninterrupted operations.
The Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) control room has handled 8,373 calls and more than 17,965 emails since activation, including 38 calls and 127 emails in the last 24 hours.
India has also facilitated the repatriation of more than 2,953 seafarers so far, including 31 in the past day from across the Gulf region.
Port operations across the country remain normal with no congestion reported, the statement added.
