Karnataka has allowed medical textile production to continue under the essential category even as it has stopped production of fashion textiles. The state has exempted 50 industries from the state’s lockdown measures. The state industries released the list of these industries that includes manufacturing units of bulk drugs, pharmaceuticals, sanitation materials, oxygen, medical devices, medical textiles, their raw materials, components, and their intermediates.

The government has permitted non-essential businesses to carry out their regular maintenance work including measures for fire safety, machine safety, and worker safety on Sundays, the government said. However, it has halted their retail business, As per ANAROCK research, Karnataka presently has close to 50 operational malls across the top cities and Tier II and III cities. Bengaluru alone has nearly 36 operational malls – the same number as that in entire MMR. Tier II and III cities including Mysore and Hubli have five operational malls each.