Coronavirus: Anganwadis to deliver groceries to beneficiaries in Karnataka
Karnataka has taken a cue from neighbouring KeralaSeveral food hall stores in Bengaluru have been closed and are offering home delivery services
BENGALURU: The Karnataka government will deliver groceries at the doorstep of children dependent on anganwadis after most educational institutions were shut for a week as a precautionary measure against the novel coronavirus.
Karnataka has taken a cue from its neighbouring state, Kerala, which has issued similar orders.
“For the duration of the time that holidays have been declared the total food would be calculated and distributed to the homes of beneficiaries," the state's women and child development department said in a circular.
Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Friday announced that all malls, cinema theatres, and night clubs will be closed for one week from Saturday and also barred people from conducting summer camps, meetings, sports events, and symposiums.
The decision comes a day after Karnataka reported the first confirmed COVID-19 death in the country in Kalaburagi, about 575 kms from Bengaluru.
Five people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the state. Three of those who tested positive work with information technology firms based in Bengaluru. The wife and daughter of one of the three executives have also tested positive for the virus.
Maharashtra and Delhi among other states have imposed similar restrictions to contain the spread of the virus that has been declared a pandemic by World Health Organisation (WHO).
Several food hall stores in Bengaluru have also been closed and are offering home delivery services.
All universities and colleges had also been closed in Bengaluru, but the government clarified that all exams will continue as per schedule.
Karnataka government had announced that additional laboratories will be established for detection of coronavirus and a committee will be formed for coordination with private hospitals.
The state government has even suggested that IT and other large corporations extend work from home facility for their employees to reduce the risk of contagion.
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