Despite lockdown, spike in Covid-19 cases in Barmer

JAISALMER: Eight people were arrested on Wednesday for selling vegetables without permission from the district administration in Barmer, which is under lockdown since July 3. Two persons were arrested for violating lockdown norms on Tuesday.
As many as 27 more people were found infected with the virus on Wednesday, taking the tally to 541 in Barmer.

Despite lockdown and zero mobility curfew, Covid-19 cases in Barmer city are on the rise. One of the reasons for the spike is that some people are not adhering to the lockdown norms. In the past one month, 406 people were found infected.
Barmer district collector Vishram Meena said strict action is being taken against people violating the lockdown and penalty is being imposed on them. Vegetable market was open at Vishnu Colony, which was operating despite the lockdown, when a team of district administration and police raided it.
“Today eight people have been arrested in Sadar Police station under Section 151 of CrPC,” said sub divisional magistrate Prashant Sharma.
The situation has turned worse in the past one month. Till June 7, there were only 105 Covid-19 cases in Barmer district, whereas on July 7, the cases increased to 514. In the last 30 days, the district added 409 new infections.
The administration was forced to enforce a lockdown as a lot of people started pouring in at shops, malls, and vegetable markets without taking much safety measures to ward off the risk of getting infection. “The city witnessed spike in cases after the marriage season, which ended a few days ago. Now, there is spurt in number of new infections. In the lockdown, we are taking samples of as many people as we can, which is why, more people are being tested positive for Covid-19,” said Dr Kamlesh Chaudhary, chief medical health officer (Barmer).
During the wedding season, while people threw Covid-19 norms to wind, the administration too remained a mute spectator and failed to control the crowd attending the marriages.
Balotra vegetable mandi is the epicentre for the outbreak of Covid-19 in the district. Around 20 days ago, a father-son duo at Balotra vegetable market were found infected. Later, six more members of the same family and then over 100 were tested positive, who came in contact with them. On June 26, in Barmer, a vegetable trader was found infected, after which till now 140 people have been infected.