On Saturday, 1,533 cases were registered in the urban region of Bengaluru with 23 deaths. Of 819 beds for Covid-19 in government medical colleges in Bangalore, 805 were occupied.

The Karnataka government has decided to impose a total closure on the urban and rural districts of Bengaluru from July 14 to July 22 following the increase in Covid-19 cases during the past week.

“As a measure to control the increasing number of Covid-19 cases and with the advice of experts, a blockade will be imposed in the urban and rural districts of Bengaluru for seven days from 8 pm on July 14 until 5 P.M On July 22, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said on Saturday.

“Only essential services will work during this period. A detailed order will be issued on Monday. Scheduled medical exams for the period will be conducted as scheduled. There is no need for panic during the period of confinement, “said Yediyurappa, who has been in isolation since July 10, on social media.

The CM’s statement came after a panel of experts and ministers recommended a shutdown to allow the health infrastructure to crumble to deal with emerging cases.

“The eight ministers in charge of Bangalore have said that it would be appropriate to impose a blockade. Some experts have also recommended a closure … Ultimately, the Prime Minister will discuss with everyone, including experts, and make a final decision … “said Dr. K Sudhakar, Minister of Medical Education and COVID, before the announcement.

Since the closure of the confinement in Karnataka on June 8, cases have increased at an accelerated rate in and around Bengaluru, pushing health infrastructure to the limit.

Over 8,000 cases have been reported in the past week, with the seven-day doubling rate (compared to nine for the state) and the positivity rate of 23.7 percent (compared to 12.1 percent for the state ) in the last week. The city has seen 18.4 deaths per million residents compared to 7.9 for the state.

On Saturday, 1,533 cases were registered in the urban region of Bengaluru with 23 deaths. Of the 819 beds for Covid-19 at the government medical schools in Bangalore, 805 were occupied.

Up to 499 beds of 558 beds in government hospitals, 1,245 of 1,962 beds in private medical schools, and 236 of 283 beds in private hospitals were in use. “We need more time to breathe for the health sector as workers and infrastructure are at a breaking point,” said a senior government official.