Any decision on Bengaluru lockdown only after consulting experts: Ministers
Bengaluru: Any decision on re-imposing lockdown in the city in view of surging COVID-19 cases will be taken only after consulting experts, several Karnataka Ministers said on Wednesday, amid speculations that the government is planning such a course.
A day after setting off a debate saying the government may have to consider lockdown, Health Minister B Sriramulu maintained that if the cases in the city continued to increase the matter would be discussed with the expert committee, with Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and a decision taken.
"We have an expert committee, and if the cases continue to increase we will discuss with them, with the Chief Minister, and take a decision. Also, the Central government will be consulted," he told reporters here.
Evading a direct answer on whether there should be a lockdown or not, the Minister said more tests have to happen in the city, where 1,678 cases of COVID-19 have been reported so far. This included 78 deaths and 475 discharges.
As part of unlock-1 from June 1, Karnataka has further relaxed lockdown curbs and allowed various activities.
The number of COVID-19 cases in the state which stood at 3,408 as of June 1 has crossed the 10,000 marks on Wednesday with the state capital topping the districts in the infection count.
Concerned over increase in COVID-19 cases in the city, Yediyurappa on Monday had directed officials to implement lockdown measures strictly in certain clusters that have reported more coronavirus infections.
City's busiest K R Market and Kalasipalya Market have been sealed for 15 days by the civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) as part of measures to check the spread of the deadly virus,
Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday said whether to go for lockdown once again was an important issue.
At a time when coronavirus cases were increasing, the decision has to be taken keeping in mind COVID management, economic activities that were taking place, and the economic situation of the government.
"Extensive discussions are taking place about the lockdown.
The Chief Minister is every day reviewing the corona situation in the state. He is holding meetings with senior officials and gathering information," he said.
Yediyurappa will take a call whether it should be taken up at the Cabinet or at the COVID task force meeting.
Some reports suggest that a decision on lockdown was likely at the cabinet meeting scheduled for Thursday.
Noting that there were apprehensions among some experts that the community spread might have been happening Rural Development Minister K S Eshwarappa said the cabinet was likely to discuss the issue on Thursday.
Tourism Minister C T Ravi said the government had been taking decisions on lockdown based on the experts' report and also taking the opposition into confidence.
"This time too any decision will be taken based on the expert's report," he added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
===================
The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
