Bengaluru, July 21: The Karnataka government will ramp up testing in containment zones amid rising coronavirus cases in the state. The state government has procured two lakh antigen test kits. These kits have been supplied to all the districts of the state. The Karnataka government also is aiming to conduct 50,000 antigen tests in Bengaluru. Bengaluru 1-Week Lockdown From Today: BMTC Suspends Bus Services For General Public, To Operate Essential Services, Check SOPs.

Karnataka Minister for Medical Education K Sudhakar, tweeted, "In order to ramp up testing in containment zones,2 lakh rapid Antigen test kits procured&supplied to all districts. 50,000 antigen tests will be conducted in Bengaluru Rural&Dists. Our target is to conduct 35,000 Antigen tests per day."

Tweet by Sudhakar:

Earlier in the day, the state government decided not to extend lockdown in Bengaluru. Karnataka Cheif Minister BS Yedyurappa said, "There'll be no lockdown from tomorrow, people need to get back to work, the economy is also very important." The lockdown will be imposed only in containment zones in the city.

Karnataka on Tuesday reported 3,649 new COVID-19 cases and 61 deaths. Till now, 71,069 people have contracted COVID-19. Over 1,400 people have also succumbed to the virus so far in the state. According to the state health ministry, there are 44,140 active cases.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 21, 2020 08:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).