Karnataka government makes masks mandatory for new year celebrations

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has made wearing masks compulsory inside closed spaces like restaurants, pubs, theatre halls, schools, and colleges across the state during new year celebrations. The guidelines issued today say the celebration can go on till 1 am.

The fresh guidelines also said pregnant women, children, elderly citizens, and people with health issues must avoid public gatherings. In case of events happening in closed spaces, the number of people cannot be more than the available seats. The government also insisted that sanitisers, face masks, and vaccination are mandatory for school students.

The surge of Covid cases in some parts of the world driven by the new variant BF.7 is contributing to concerns in India. Karnataka Health Minister of Karnataka K Sudhakar told NDTV that there is no need to panic but precautions have to be taken from now on. The state is also consulting the Technical Advisory Committee members regarding vaccination, tests for influenza-like illness (ILI), and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) cases.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said preventive and precautionary measures will be implemented in a phased manner to keep the spread of Covid in check. He added that it will be done in a manner without affecting the economy and daily activities of the common people.

Speaking to the media, CM Bommai said the government wants the ongoing Belagavi session of the state Assembly to be fruitful and meaningful. He said the Opposition parties are going to discuss many issues and his government is ready to debate or discuss anything. The focus is likely to be the issues pertaining to the North Karnataka region, especially the border dispute with Maharashtra.