Karnataka to make masks mandatory indoors amid rising Covid cases in China

The state government has also directed that Covid-19 tests will be mandatory for those with symptoms like influenza and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI).

The two percent random testing of international passengers arriving in the state will continue until revised directions from the Centre, state Health Minister K Sudhakar said.

Samples of all patients who test positive will be sent to labs for genome sequencing.

"We are going to issue an advisory to wear masks in indoor locations, closed spaces and air-conditioned rooms. Also, there will be mandatory testing of ILI and SARI cases across Karnataka," Sudhakar said, briefing reporters after a meeting led by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on COVID-19.

The meeting was attended by ministers, health department officials and the members of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) on COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting to review the situation related to the pandemic.

According to reports, he has asked people to wear masks and increase testing as well as genome sequencing.