Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Friday announced a complete lockdown in the state from 6 AM on May 10 to 6 AM on May 24, ANI reported. The previously-imposed ‘corona curfew’ has failed as infections continue to surge across the state, thus requiring a complete lockdown, Yediyurappa said.  

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He also confirmed all hotels, pubs and bars will remain closed for the duration of the lockdown, while eateries, meat shops and vegetable shops will be allowed to operate from 6-10 AM. 

“Not even a single person will be allowed after 10 am in the lockdown, I have suggested police officers to take stringent action. We have decided this after looking at the death toll and increasing number of cases,” Yediyurappa said.

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader also said that the lockdown is a “temporary decision” and urged migrant labourers to not leave the state. 

COVID-19 cases in Karnataka have sky-rocketed recently, with the state logging over 40,000 daily infections to become one of the worst-affected states. 

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On Friday, Karnataka recorded its highest single-day rise in fatalities with 592 deaths, along with 48,781 new COVID-19 cases, according to data from the health department. 

The total number of cases in the state stands at 18,38,885, with the death toll pushed to 17,804. Karnataka has 5,36,641 active cases, with the positivity rate 30.69%.