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Tag: India Covid surge

  • 25,000 devotees, over 1,000 seers mark final shahi snan

    Three days earlier than the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar involves an finish, round 1,350 seers from varied akharas and 25,000 devotees bathed in Brahmkund at Har Ki Pauri over the past shahi snan on Tuesday — practically 1 per cent of the whole attendance anticipated by the authorities for the shahi snan on April 27.
    Hours later, the Haridwar district administration introduced a ‘corona curfew’ in Haridwar within the night. It might be efficient from April 28 to the morning of May 3.
    After an enchantment by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and amid criticism over violation of Covid protocols on the Mela, the akharas had agreed to mark a symbolic Kumbh Mela to keep away from any new coronavirus infections.
    IG Kumbh Mela, Sanjay Gunjyal, informed The Indian Express, “Following appeal from the Prime Minister and constant review by the Chief Minister, akharas cooperated in keeping the crowd low today. There were meetings with akharas daily over the last three days on crowd management. They followed social distancing too. Even Naga sadhus wore masks.”
    Police personnel additionally participated in a shahi snan and officers stated it was “symbolic”. Before the shahi snan Tuesday, Gunjyal visited each akhara camp to make sure attendance was restricted.
    According to information shared by the police, round 85 seers from Niranjani and Anand akhadas, 250 from Juna, Agni and Ahvaham; 80 from Mahanirvani and Atal; round 600 from Nirmohi, Nirvani and Diganmbar, round 230 from Bada Udaseen and Naya Udaseen and 100 from Nirmal akhara took half within the shahi snan Tuesday.

    The footfall of devotees throughout the first shahi snan on March 11 was 32 lakh and the determine was nearly the identical on the second shahi snan on April 14. Attendance got here all the way down to 13 lakh on the third shahi snan on April 14.
    Juna Akhara spokesperson Mahant Narayan Giri stated, “In view of appeals from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, we kept the shahi snan symbolic today. Around 5,000 seers and followers with 150 chariots had taken part in each of the past three shahi snans… Around 90 per cent seers and followers who had come from other states have already returned.”

  • Amid Covid second wave, Boris Johnson’s India go to postpone, to carry digital assembly with PM Modi

    As the second surge of the Covid-19 continues to peak, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s go to to India has been postpone, the Ministry of External Affairs Monday mentioned. Johnson was scheduled to return to India on April 25-26.
    Announcing this, MEA official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi mentioned, “In view of the prevailing Covid situation, it has been decided by mutual agreement that the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom will not visit India next week.”
    He mentioned the 2 sides shall be holding a digital assembly within the coming days to launch “plans for a transformed India-UK relationship”.
    “Both leaders attach the highest importance to taking the India-UK partnership to its fullest potential and propose to remain in close touch in this regard and look forward to an in-person meeting later in the year,” the MEA spokesperson mentioned.
    Last month, the British PM’s workplace had introduced that Johnson will journey to India on the finish of April in what can be his first main abroad go to following Brexit.

    This is the second time Johnson has needed to cancel his India journey this yr.
    Earlier, the British PM was pressured to cancel his journey because the chief visitor of the Republic Day celebrations in January this yr following a surge in Covid-19 instances within the UK, and had then promised to go to India earlier than the G-7 summit in June. He has additionally invited PM Narendra Modi for the G-7 summit within the UK.

  • Delhi, Mumbai ban Holi celebrations in public amid Covid surge

    Public celebration and gatherings for upcoming festivals, together with Holi, have been prohibited in Delhi and Mumbai amid a renewed surge in Covid-19 instances throughout the nation.
    The Uttar Pradesh authorities, then again, has issued a set of pointers asking senior residents and weak teams to steer clear of celebrations and mentioned no processions or gatherings might be allowed with out prior administrative permission.
    The Delhi Disaster Management Authority acknowledged that amid rising Covid-19 instances in NCT of Delhi, public celebrations for upcoming festivals corresponding to Holi, Navratri and gatherings basically, is not going to be allowed. “All district magistrates and concerned authorities should ensure strict adherence to the order,” it acknowledged.
    The Mumbai civic physique additionally banned Holi celebrations, events or gatherings in public locations, resorts and resorts.

     
    Uttar Pradesh additionally issued a set of pointers asking senior residents, these with comorbidities and youngsters beneath 10 years to steer clear of gatherings.
    The contemporary directive, whereas emphasising strict implementation of the anti-Covid measures, additionally stipulated that no procession or public programmes could be allowed with out prior administrative permission.

    Amid #COVID19 scare, UP govt points pointers forward of Holi competition; no procession to be carried out with out prior permission. People above 60 years of age, youngsters beneath 10 years of age & individuals with co-morbodities to not take part pic.twitter.com/P7UCpnIPZ8
    — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 23, 2021
    UP Chief Secretary R Okay Tiwari issued the directive a day after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a high-level assembly on the Covid scenario within the state.
    The directive issued to all district and division-level officers mentioned the Covid testing of all these coming to UP in the course of the Holi competition from the states reporting excessive numbers of infections might be crucial. It additionally stipulated that organisers is not going to permit individuals above 60 or beneath 10 years of age or these having severe illnesses to take part in such occasions.
    The authorities additionally declared Holi holidays in all colleges as much as Class VIII from March 24 to 31. It mandated Covid checks for passengers at railway stations, bus stations and airports in addition to reactivating Covid helpdesks, operating devoted Covid hospitals in all districts and retaining different hospitals prepared for any future wants.
    https://open.spotify.com/embed-podcast/show/0ygP4jm9c9SdqUM3C6DycM
    The directive additionally laid the accountability of implementing precautionary measures like sustaining social distancing and carrying of masks by the individuals collaborating in these programmes on their organisers.
    (With inputs from PTI)

  • MHA new Covid tips: States requested to extend testing, velocity up vaccination

    Amid a spike in Covid-19 circumstances in some elements of the nation, the MHA has issued a set of tips to restrict the unfold of coronavirus. The tips, which will probably be efficient from April 1, have requested states and Union Territories to implement the ‘test-track-treat’ protocol and laid down containment measures.
    The Hime ministry has additionally mentioned governments ought to take all mandatory measures to advertise Covid-appropriate behaviour in workplaces and in public, particularly in crowded locations.

    MHA Guidelines for efficient management of COVID-19.
    States/ UTs mandated to strictly implement Test-Track-Treat protocol, Containment measures,COVID-Appropriate conduct and SOPs on numerous actions.
    Press release-https://t.co/adAcSXw3rx
    — Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) March 23, 2021
    The tips acknowledged, “States and UTs, based on their assessment of the situation, may impose local restrictions, at district/ sub-district and city/ ward level, with a view to contain the spread of COVID-19… All activities have been permitted outside Containment Zones and SOPs have been prescribed for various activities. These include: movement by passenger trains; air travel; metro trains; schools; higher educational institutions; hotels and restaurants; shopping malls, multiplexes and entertainment parks; yoga centres and gymnasiums; exhibitions, assemblies and congregations.”
    Emphasizing the necessity to velocity up testing, the MHA additional acknowledged, “States and UTs, where the proportion of RT-PCR tests is less, should rapidly increase it, to reach the prescribed level of 70 percent or more. The new positive cases, detected as a result of intensive testing, need to be isolated/ quarantined at the earliestand provided timely treatment. Further as per the protocol, their contacts have to be traced at the earliest, and similarly isolated/ quarantined. Based on the positive cases and tracking of their contacts, Containment Zones shall be carefully demarcated by the district authorities, at the micro level, taking into consideration the guidelines prescribed by the MoHFWin this regard.”

    It added, “The SOPs, as updated from time to time, shall be strictly enforced by the authorities concerned, who shall be responsible for their strict observance.”

    The authorities, nonetheless, acknowledged there will probably be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state motion of individuals and items, together with these for cross land-border commerce beneath treaties with neighbouring nations. “No separate permission/ approval/ e-permit will be required for such movements,” it mentioned.

    The authorities has determined that everyone above 45 years of age will probably be eligible for vaccination from April 1. Announcing this, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday mentioned, “We request that all eligible should immediately register and get vaccinated.”
    So far, solely individuals above 60 years of age and people within the age group of 45-60 with co-morbidities have been eligible for vaccination.