BSY sets up fund as state fights 3 diseases

THE STATE CABINET HAS ALSO DECIDED TO QUARANTINE ALL INTERNATIONAL PASSENGERS FOR A PERIOD OF 14 DAYS

BENGALURU: Karnataka chief minist e r BS Yediyurappa has announced that a ~200-crore f und has b e e n s e t a s i d e t o combat the spread of coronavir us ( Covid- 1 9 ) i n t he s t at e a nd t he p a r t i a l l o c k d o wn would be extended till March 31.

The announcement comes after three more people in the state tested positive for Covid-19 bringing the tally to 14.

Ye d i y u r a p p a made the a n n o u n c e me n t after an emergency cabinet meeting t o r eview preparedness as the state is facing Covid-19, while al s o c ombating bi r d flu leading to poultry being culled at an industrial level and the outbreak of Kasyanur Forest Disease (or Monkey Fever) in the Malnad region.

Yediyurappa announced the setting up of a task force, which will monitor the three health challenges facing the state.

State health and family welfare minister B Sriramulu, state medical education minister K Sudhakar, deputy chief minister Ashwath Narayana, state home minister Basvraj Bommai and the state chief secretary are part of the task force.

The state cabinet also decided to quarantine all incoming international passengers for 14 days. Sriramulu said that as a precautionary measure it may bar all international flights from landing in Bengaluru.

The health minister said two men, a 56-year-old and a 35-year old, who had returned from the United States of America, tested positive for Covid-19.

A 25-year-old woman, who had returned from Spain, is also i nfected with t he virus, he added.