Mangaluru : A 33-hour lockdown has been imposed in the state from 8 pm on Saturday till 5 am on Monday due to the rising number of coronavirus cases being reported in the city. Earlier, Karnataka had announced Sunday lockdowns starting from Sunday. State has observed Sunday lockdown earlier too, but this time, it’s more stringent.

From Monday, officials said, night curfew will start from 8 pm instead of 9 pm, but the end time of 5 am will remain across the state.

All government offices will have a five-day week with Saturday as holiday.

Chief Minister BS Yediuyurappa asked the authorities to reserve wedding halls, hostels and other institutions in Bengaluru to be converted into COVID-19 care centres and to use railway coaches with beds as additional facilities.

The centre has deployed 15 teams, consisting of public health experts, epidemiologists and other specialists, to support states in the battle to contain a seemingly relentless wave of COVID-19 infections, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan was informed during the 17th Group of Ministers (GoM) meeting held Saturday afternoon.

India has recorded over 6.73 lakh confirmed cases since the outbreak began in China in December last year.

Mangaluru and its suburbs wore a deserted look and shops remained closed due to total lockdown reimposed on Sunday in the state to contain the rising number of coronavirus cases.

Roads remained traffic free. Except milk supply, hospitals, pharmacies, ambulance services, emergency and no other activities are are permitted. Private vehicles are allowed only for emergency medical needs.

All roads, markets, bus stands in the city wore a deserted look. Police have been deployed in seeral areas in Mangaluru to ensure that citizens do not violate the lockdown.