Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai holds emergency meet yesterday

Belgavi: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai held an emergency meeting yesterday in Belagavi to review the Covid situation anticipating a surge in the coming days.

Briefing the media persons later, the Health Minister said that the global situation of the pandemic was discussed in the meeting yesterday with the Technical Advisory Committee, officials, and experts. Subsequent to this a decision was taken to launch a special drive at district and taluka levels to vaccinate the people with the third dose as only 20 percent of the population is administered the third dose.

Another decision was taken to conduct mandatory Covid tests for those with influenza-like illness and Severe Acute Respiratory Infections in the state. The masks will be made



mandatory indoors, in closed areas, and in air-conditioned interiors. He further added that Central Government guidelines as and when issued will be followed by the state. Random testing of passengers, especially those arriving from abroad at the airport will continue. 

The functioning of the oxygen plants installed at many hospitals will be reviewed and rectified if needed. The hospitals both Government and private will be asked to reactivate the Covid wards. Asking people not to heed any rumors, the minister said that BF 7 omicron variant is said to be responsible for a surge in Covid 19 cases in China but its impact in India is under observation.  He appealed to the public to take all the precautionary measures.