Bengaluru: Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar ruled out lockdown in the state despite vertical increase in Covid cases, but banned protest rallies including padayatra of political parties and organizations.

This restriction affects the Congress as its ambitious Mekedatu padyatra is under jeopardy. The protest rally is scheduled to kickstart from January 9. It is being held to demand early implementation of the project, which is a bone of contention between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

"I am not using the word lockdown here. Because we are not imposing it. We are not controlling and trying to hurt the activities here. We are trying to avoid conjugations. We are trying to inhibit the movement of the people because we all know the pandemic and the virus moves along with the person.

"So, it is directly proportional to the persons' movement," he told reporters after emerging from a meeting chaired by Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai with the Technical Advisory Committee.

He also clarified that the ban on protest rallies applies even to the ruling parties. "I would like to make it very clear that this decision has been taken considering the vertical surge of Covid cases not only in the country but also in the world. It has not been taken in the backdrop of any padayatra," he said.

Dr Sudhakar the surge in Covid cases in the state can double in quick time as it is increasing at a pace of 3.12 percent. "Today itself, we have seen a surge of 3.12 percent. So, every 2 to 3 days we have an estimate of it doubling. So, that is a very very quick pace at which it can double," he said.

"In the first and second wave, the cases used to double once in 15 days and once in 8 to 10 days, respectively, but now it is doubling once in 2 to 3 days. Therefore, there is a vertical growth of pandemic and there needs to be utmost caution and care," the minister said.

However, Dr Sudhakar said people should not be scared, but need to be utmost cautious and take all precautionary measures. "Compulsory Covid behavior should be followed. It must be implemented, if not people will be fined for not wearing the mask in all public areas. This is going to be monitored. This is going to be implemented very strictly," he said.

Dr Sudhakar also said strict measures including intensive surveillance, will be taken at the borders of Kerala, Maharashtra and Goa, in view of the surging Covid cases in these states.