High-level teams to help UP, Punjab, HP manage high infection loads, curb fatalities
As Covid-19 pandemic continues unabated across the country, the Centre has rushed high-level teams to three States — Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab — to help them manage high infection loads and curb fatalities.
Earlier the Union Government had sent the high level teams to Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Manipur and Chhattisgarh.
The Union Health Ministry official said the high-level teams to UP, Punjab and HP aim to support them in Covid-19 response and management. These States have been either reporting a rise in the number of active cases —those who are hospitalised or are in home isolation under medical supervision, or demonstrating a rise in the daily new cases of coronavirus infections.
These three-member teams will visit the districts reporting a high number of Covid cases and support the State efforts towards strengthening containment, surveillance, testing, infection prevention and control measures and efficient clinical management of the positive cases. The Central teams shall also guide in effectively managing the challenges related to timely diagnosis and follow up, the official said.
Acting tough in a bid to break the chain of infection, the UP Government, which initially restricted 100 people at marriage function instead of 200 in Noida and Ghaziabad districts brought the entire States under the marriage guest capping. The violators will face tough action, the authorities said, adding that the decision has been taken due to a spike in the number of coronavirus cases.
Night curfews and Section 144 have returned in States like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and others. The Ashok Gehlot Government in Rajasthan has imposed night curfew in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Bikaner, Udaipur, Ajmer, Alwar and Bhilwara. According to news agencies, nobody except those providing essential and emergency services will be allowed to come out from 8 pm to 6 am in few cities in Rajasthan. The fine for not wearing a face mask has been increased from Rs 200 to Rs 500.
In Delhi, the fine for not wearing face masks has been increased from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000. Besides, consumption of tobacco, spitting in public places, violation of quarantine rules, and not maintaining social distancing will also attract a fine of the same amount. The Delhi Disaster Management Authority had reverted to the earlier cap on the number of guests in the wake of a spurt in coronavirus cases in the city.
Following the latest order, only 50 people will now be allowed at marriage functions in the capital city.
There will not be an overall lockdown, but there will be strict surveillance at the markets emerging as Covid-19 hotspots, said the Kejriwal Government.
Rattled by an increase in Covid cases, the Madhya Pradesh Government too has announced imposition of night curfew in five districts Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Ratlam and Vidisha from Saturday, as the State reported 1,500 cases on Friday - the highest for the State in the past 40 days. The night curfew will be from 10 pm to 6 am the next day. The State Government has also decided to close schools up to Class 8 till 31 December.
Gujarat, where the Central team is assessing the spike in coronavirus cases, has decided to impose a night curfew in three cities of the State, including Ahmedabad, Surat and Rajkot on 21 November from 9 pm to 6 am. Himachal Pradesh is another States that is witnessing second wave of Covid with markets and shops to remain shut in Shimla following district administration’s order on Sundays until further orders. Also, shops selling groceries, milk, fruits, vegetables, meat, medicines, and restaurants have been exempted. Neighbouring Haryana has again closed schools till November end.
