Covid-hit K'taka secretariat partly shut for sanitising

The iconic Vidhana Soudha -- the Karnataka secretariat building, in the city centre -- has been partly shut for sanitising after a policeman on duty tested Covid positive, an official said on Monday.

"The sprawling secretariat was partly shut for sanitising the first floor of the 3-storey stone building where a police constable on duty tested positive on Sunday. The city civic body men fumigated the entire floor," the official told IANS here.

As a preventive measure, all government employees above 50 years of age and working in the secretariat building have been given leave on Monday and others were told to report for duty after lunch recess.

"Visiting hours for the public has also been reduced to 1 hour from 4.30-5.30 p.m. from 3.30-5.30 p.m. on working days in view of the rising Covid cases in the city," said the official.

The state's mini secretariat Vikas Soudha adjacent to Vidhana Soudha was also shut on June 19 for sanitisation after a government employee working in it tested positive.

The state government has also declared holiday for all its employees on first Saturday and third Saturday of this month in addition to second and fourth Saturday as total lockdown has been re-imposed on all Sundays till August 2.

Of the 1,925 new Covid cases reported in the state on Sunday, Bengaluru accounted for 1,235, taking its positive tally to 9,580, including 8,167 active," according to the state health bulletin.