Gyms, party halls, swimming pools prohibited as the city records nearly 5,000 Covid-19 cases

Bengaluru: As Karnataka has reported around 7,000 fresh Covid cases in the past 24 hours of which 5,000 of them are from Bengaluru alone, city police commissioner Kamal Pant has ordered to prohibit the functioning of gyms, swimming pools, and party halls in apartments and residential complexes. However, commercial gymnasiums will function with 50% capacity.

Apart from gyms, swimming pools and party halls in apartments and residential complexes in city limits are also banned from functioning. The state witnesses 35 deaths in the past 24 hours due to Covid out of which 25 alone were recorded from Bengaluru alone.

The city police commissioner confirmed that the swimming pools, party halls and gyms have been prohibited from functioning as a safety measure against Covid-19.

The city’s top cop, in prohibitory orders issued on April 4, stated, “Operation of swimming pools, including those located in apartment complexes, is prohibited. Operation of gyms with more than 50% capacity is prohibited.”

This has created confusion about whether standalone gyms are prohibited, whereas those in apartment complexes continued to function. On Wednesday, the city police commissioner, Pant confirmed that standalone gyms could function with 50% capacity and those in apartment complexes would be prohibited. This is because there was an increase in the number of people in these gyms.

His latest order read, “For the purpose of effective implementation of Covid-19 protocol, it is considered necessary to issue an addendum to prohibitory order issued earlier.”

The order added that apart from gyms, party halls and swimming pools in apartment complexes in Bengaluru city limits are banned from operating