RANCHI: The
district administration has asked Ranchi Police to keep a vigil on revellers ahead of
Christmas and the New Year in view of the pandemic. Notably, the Ranchi district has reported the bulk of the fresh cases in the state in the last few days. Ranchi had reported 104 of the 209 new Covid-19 cases in the state on Tuesday.
Ranchi deputy commissioner Chhavi Ranjan said: “Police teams would keep a close eye on popular picnic spots in and around Ranchi to ensure that social distancing and other
Covid protocols are followed. They have been asked to strictly implement the norms.” The district authorities have intensified PCR patrolling in view of the festivities.
The district administration said that churches have also been asked to follow the latest Covid guidelines issued by the
state disaster management department. Sources in the disaster management department said that a fresh order with regard to Christmas was unlikely to be issued.
The auxiliary bishop of Ranchi, Theodore Mascarenhas, said, “We would adhere to the state directive on public gathering and all other
rules issued by the administration.”
Jamadar Soren of All Churches Leaders Council of Jharkhand said, “We would allow a small group of devotees at the churches during the rituals, so that social distancing norms are followed.”
Till Wednesday evening, Ranchi had reported 29,813 Covid cases, of which 760 were active. Apart from Ranchi, only
East Singhbhum has active Covid cases in triple digits in the state.