Lockdown restrictions reduced Covid-19 cases in the state: BSY

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Thursday said that lockdown restrictions have reduced Covid-19 cases in the state

Speaking to the reporters here, Yediyurappa said, “Restrictions were imposed in the state on April 24 in order to curb the spread of  Covid-19. Stricter measures were adopted on May 10. This has reduced the number of  Covid-19 cases in the state.”

He further said,  “The number of ICU beds, oxygen beds and ventilators has substantially increased over the past year. In March 2020, the Health Department had 70 oxygen beds, 444 ICUs and 676 ventilators. Now there are  24,000 oxygen beds, 1,185 ICU beds and 2,019 ventilators.”

“The central government has increased the oxygen supply to the state from 965 metric tonnes to 1,018 metric tonnes.  We receive 750mt of oxygen from the state, 30mt of oxygen from Visakhapatnam. Also, we received 40mt from Bahrain, 100 mt from Kuwait, and 120 mt of oxygen from Jamshedpur by train.  Further steps are being taken to increase the capacity of oxygen generation in the state as well,”  he added.

Yediyurappa said, “We have decided to get 10,000 oxygen cylinders.  We have already received 730  cylinders in the last 10 days. Out of which 380  were provided by the central government and the rest was obtained from abroad. Over 3,000 oxygen concentrators have already been distributed and the rest 7,000 concentrators will be  distributed soon”

Talking about the vaccination program, he said, “Three crore vaccines have been ordered by the state. People yet to receive a second dose of the vaccine will be given first priority. Vaccination for 18 to 44-year-old has been temporarily postponed.”