Karnataka mulls green pass for vaccinated citizens

The government is also planning to recruit 10,000 home surgeons and nursing students for tele-triaging, he said.

The minister, however, said the government does not have any intentions of enforcing a lockdown despite the increasing number of COVID-19 cases.

"Lockdown was imposed in the state when there were no vaccines and no information on the kind of havoc Covid would play. Now, India has vaccines and experienced two waves where it did well to restrict the virus," he said.

People should not panic over an increase in positivity rate because the virus does not behave violently in people who have been either partially or fully vaccinated, Sudhakar said.

Sudhakar said it is impossible to stop the arrival of international visitors to India, but it is possible to restrict the spread of the virus by taking strict measures, without disturbing the business and commercial activities of the people.

"Even the Indian government has made it mandatory for international arrivals to undergo seven-day home quarantine," he said.

Meanwhile, Revenue Minister R Ashok tested Covid positive and was hospitalized.