‘Regulate crowd’: Centre writes to states, UTs as festivals approach amid Covid concerns
The Centre on Friday requested states and union territories to regulate crowd throughout upcoming festivals like Holi, Easter and Eid in view of rising circumstances of COVID-19. In a communication to chief secretaries of all states and union territories (UTs), Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla mentioned the nation is passing by means of a vital juncture as COVID-19 circumstances and deaths have been on the rise.
Bhalla mentioned after assessing the state of affairs, pointers for efficient management of COVID-19 had been issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on March 23 and it has been emphasised that states and UTs ought to strictly implement the ‘test-track-treat’ protocol.
It has additionally been instructed that COVID-19 applicable behaviour needs to be noticed and prescribed SOPs adopted on numerous actions, such as opening of faculties, greater schooling establishments, motels and eating places, buying malls, multiplexes, leisure parks, gymnasium, exhibitions, amongst others.
Further, states and UTs, primarily based on their evaluation of the state of affairs, are allowed to impose native restrictions on the district, sub-district, and metropolis and ward ranges.
“In view of upcoming festivals such as Holi, Shab-e-Barat, harvesting festivals, Easter, Eid-ul-Fitr, etc. the state governments and UT administrations should take necessary measures to regulate crowds during these festivals by ensuring strict observance of COVID appropriate behaviour, such as wearing of mask and maintaining social distancing, as mandated in aforesaid guidelines and in the National Directives for COVID- 19 Management,” the communication mentioned.
The residence secretary additionally requested chief secretaries to concern essential directions to district administrations and police authorities to scrupulously implement COVID-19 applicable behaviour and SOPs in all public gatherings through the upcoming festivals.
Further, Bhalla mentioned, marketing campaign must also be intensified for creating public consciousness.
“As has been emphasised time and again by health experts, strict adherence to COVID appropriate behaviour in public places and gatherings will help in breaking the chain of transmission and reduce the incidence of COVID cases in the country,” he mentioned.
India noticed 59,118 new coronavirus infections in a day, the best single day rise to date this yr, taking the nationwide COVID-19 tally to 1,18,46,652, the well being ministry mentioned on Friday.
The lively caseload breached the 4 lakh-mark once more after round three-and-half months.
The demise toll elevated to 1,60,949 with 257 every day new fatalities, the info up to date at 8 am confirmed.
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