Bengaluru, Apr 2 (IANS): Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Thursday, April 2, again appealed to the people across the state to stay at home to strictly observe the 21-day lockdown enforced to contain the coronavirus spread.

"I once again appeal to the people of the state to stay home and ensure the lockdown is strictly observed till April 14. Do not step out of house unless must to buy essentials or medicines," the chief minister told reporters here.

Briefing the media on his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi through video conference earlier in the day, Yediyurappa said 124 people in the state have tested Covid positive so far and they were under treatment in the designated hospitals.

"The prime minister directed the state to strictly maintain the lockdown and asked us to help the migrant labour staying in relief camps due to suspension of transport services," said Yediyurappa.

Appreciating the state for implementing the guidelines for the lockdown, Modi asked the state government to ensure essential supplies were available for the people and farmers were allowed to carry on their activities.

"Modi also emphasised that all those on duty maintain social distancing and wear protective gear to ensure their safety and well-being," added Yediyurappa.

Karnataka’s 391 Markaj visitors identified, 11 tested positive

While Karnataka has implemented most of the advices given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his video conference with Chief Ministers on Thursday, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa informed that as many as 391 persons who took part in the Tablighi Markaj masjid event in Nizamuddin in Delhi have been identified so far and kept under either home or institutional quarantine.

Vigorous efforts are made to trace all the other visitors too, he said.

Yediyurappa said, “There is a possibility that they might have gone to various districts to take up religious activities and got stuck there due to lockdown. Therefore, the district administrations are directed to quarantine them wherever they are and report. This process requires a lot of enquiries and technical efforts.’’

“We have decided to test all of them. Till now, 91 have been tested in Bidar, out of which 11 have tested positive. In Bengaluru more than 30 have been tested and all are tested negative,” he said.

The chief minister appealed to all religious leaders to cooperate by creating awareness about this pandemic within their community and cooperate with the state government.