Karnataka to withdraw night curfew from Monday, Bengaluru schools to reopen

The Karnataka government will be withdrawing the night curfew from Monday, January 31. Meanwhile, schools and colleges in Bengaluru will reopen as hospitalizations from COVID-19 infection are going down, and recovery rates are on the rise. 

Karnataka education minister, BC Nagesh said, “From Monday, all classes will be operational in schools with the strict implementation of COVID19 appropriate behaviour and protocol”, as per NDTV reports. 

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Speaking about the COVID safety measures to be followed in the schools, Nagesh explained, “If any positive case is found, only that particular class will be closed, not the entire school. All kids in that class will be tested. Depending on the total number of positive cases, the deputy commissioner will decide on how long a school should be closed – three or five days”, as per Deccan Herald.

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The revised guidelines also state that metro and other public transport will operate at sitting capacity. While theatres, auditoriums and multiplexes have been capped to operating at 50% capacity, hotels, bars, clubs and pubs have been allowed to function at full capacity. Further, swimming pools and gyms can also operate at 50% capacity. 

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Religious places can open their doors to the public, but at 50% capacity too. Sevas can be resumed as per Revenue Minister R Ashoka. Marriages can have 200 people attending if the functions take place indoors. Outdoor marriage functions can have 300 attendees.  

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Rallies, fairs, dharnas, protests, religious and social gatherings still remain prohibited. However, government offices that were thus far operating at 50% capacity can also return to full strength.

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The decision comes after Karnataka saw a promising decline in COVID cases. As per the state health department, Karnataka showed 31,198 fresh cases and 50 deaths in the past 24 hours. On Friday, the active COVID cases went to 2,88,767, from Thursday’s recorded 3,28,711 cases. Currently, the positivity rate in the state is 20.91%.