With the sudden rise in fresh Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra taking alarming proportions, Madhya Pradesh has braced up for any eventuality sounding high alert in districts adjoining Maharashtra and deciding to thermal scan those coming in from the neighbouring state.

The decisions were taken during a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan here on Monday. It was decided in the meeting that use of facial masks will be made compulsory and punitive action will be ensured those violating the norm.

The district administrations have been directed to hold meeting of District Crisis Management Committee meeting compulsorily by Feb 23 in districts including Bhopal, Indore, Hoshangabd, Seoni, Barwani, Chhindwara, Balaghat, Betul, Khandwa, Burhanpur, Alirajpur and other districts sharing borders with Maharashtra.

The meetings should ponder over whether to organise fairs in upcoming months which see influx of people of Maharashtra. If at all such events are organised, then the structure of events and binding conditions should be specified clearly.

The committees are required to apprise Home ministry about matters discussed issues by Feb 24. Body temperature of those coming in from Maharashtra could be arranged in border areas, the meet decided. 

There has been an alarming rise in Covid19 cases in neighbouring Maharashtra which has prompted the government there to put in place prohibitive measures and lockdown and night curfew has been ordered in several cities. Cities like Indore, Bhopal and Jabalpur are recording a surge in fresh cases of infections and on Sunday, these cities reported 135, 55 and 17 respectively.

Total numbers of active cases have surged to 612 and 500 in Indore and Bhopal respectively, following the fresh wave. Covid19 safety protocols had eased out in the state after the  cases had ebbed. Presently the state is busy administering second dose of the vaccine to frontline workers.