Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Monday announced a 14-day lockdown beginning Tuesday night amid surge in the Covid-19 cases in the state.

The state government has taken the decision after consulting the Covid expert committee.

“We came to this decision after taking expert advice on how to handle the situation,” Yediyurappa told a news conference after the cabinet meeting on Monday.

The lockdown comes into force at 10pm on Tuesday with the only relaxation being a morning window to buy essentials.

“Stores selling grocery and other essentials will be open from 6am to 10am during the lockdown. But that is going to be the only relaxation,” the chief minister said.

Home delivery of food will be allowed throughout the lockdown period. Yediyurappa cautioned shopkeepers to shutter at 10am and avoid action by police patrols that would monitor the implementation of the restrictions.

Ambulances and other vehicles belonging to hospitals, other emergency services and goods transport will be allowed while all public transport will stay off the roads during the lockdown.

Private vehicles will be allowed only in case of emergency.

The farm sector, construction activities and manufacturing units are allowed to run during the lockdown.

Yediyurappa said there was no other way out other than a lockdown since Covid numbers in Bangalore have surpassed that of Mumbai. Bangalore had 1,80,542 active cases on Sunday as against 75,740 in Mumbai.

The Karnataka capital accounted for 20,733 of the 34,804 cases reported on Sunday.

State health minister K. Sudhakar said the maximum daily cases Bangalore recorded in the first wave was around 4,500.

“This time it’s up by five times already. This has become a major problem for us,” he said, alluding to the decision to go for a lockdown.

The cabinet has decided to provide free vaccines for 18-45 age group when the third phase of vaccination starts on May 1.

Free vaccines will continue to be available for those above 45 years.