<p>The growing number of Covid-19 cases has prompted the government to bring back the idea of containment zones with officials focusing on hostels, institutions and other facilities that can develop into large clusters.</p>.<p>Health and Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar said on Monday that hostels, boarding facilities or educational institutions where five or more cases of Covid-19 are found, will be declared containment zones.</p>.<p>He was speaking to the media after a video conference with various district authorities on the prevention of second Covid wave and the diminishing vaccination coverage.</p>.<p>A circular to this effect has already been issued from the Health Department, making negative test reports mandatory for those arriving from Kerala. A similar circular was issued with respect to travellers from Maharashtra.</p>.<p>The declaration of an area as a containment zone will be made by local health authorities. Special surveillance measures will be initiated in such areas. No food service, hotels or restaurants can open in containment zones.</p>.<p>A circular to this effect was issued recently. Essentials will be arranged for by the local civic authorities, BBMP commissioner Manjunath Prasad said.</p>.<p>In Bengaluru, an apartment in Bellandur was declared a containment zone on Monday after 10 cases were reported. Barricades and posters informing the public of the same could be seen outside the apartment complex.</p>.<p class="CrossHead"><strong>Tight borders</strong></p>.<p>Meanwhile, Karnataka sealed all roads to Kerala, including national highways, except four roads connecting Dakshina Kannada with Kerala. Only those with Covid-19 negative certificates not older than 72 hours were allowed starting from Monday. Health and police personnel are on duty at four border areas -- Talapady in Mangaluru taluk, Saradka in Bantwal, Nettanige-Mudnuru in Puttur taluk and Jalsoor in Sullia, to verify and allow people’s entry into Karnataka.</p>.<p>The health minister had recently said it was difficult to check every single passenger for a negative Covid certificate in this regard and had sought the help of the revenue and home departments in the border areas.</p>
<p>The growing number of Covid-19 cases has prompted the government to bring back the idea of containment zones with officials focusing on hostels, institutions and other facilities that can develop into large clusters.</p>.<p>Health and Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar said on Monday that hostels, boarding facilities or educational institutions where five or more cases of Covid-19 are found, will be declared containment zones.</p>.<p>He was speaking to the media after a video conference with various district authorities on the prevention of second Covid wave and the diminishing vaccination coverage.</p>.<p>A circular to this effect has already been issued from the Health Department, making negative test reports mandatory for those arriving from Kerala. A similar circular was issued with respect to travellers from Maharashtra.</p>.<p>The declaration of an area as a containment zone will be made by local health authorities. Special surveillance measures will be initiated in such areas. No food service, hotels or restaurants can open in containment zones.</p>.<p>A circular to this effect was issued recently. Essentials will be arranged for by the local civic authorities, BBMP commissioner Manjunath Prasad said.</p>.<p>In Bengaluru, an apartment in Bellandur was declared a containment zone on Monday after 10 cases were reported. Barricades and posters informing the public of the same could be seen outside the apartment complex.</p>.<p class="CrossHead"><strong>Tight borders</strong></p>.<p>Meanwhile, Karnataka sealed all roads to Kerala, including national highways, except four roads connecting Dakshina Kannada with Kerala. Only those with Covid-19 negative certificates not older than 72 hours were allowed starting from Monday. Health and police personnel are on duty at four border areas -- Talapady in Mangaluru taluk, Saradka in Bantwal, Nettanige-Mudnuru in Puttur taluk and Jalsoor in Sullia, to verify and allow people’s entry into Karnataka.</p>.<p>The health minister had recently said it was difficult to check every single passenger for a negative Covid certificate in this regard and had sought the help of the revenue and home departments in the border areas.</p>