PRAYAGRAJ: After a spate of Covid-19 cases on
Magh Mela campus, prominent seers, saints and
Dandi sanyasis have issued a set of special operating procedures (SOPs) for devotees staying in camps and ashrams to contain the spread of the infection.
This comes after 48 pilgrims tested positive for Covid-19 in the past four days.
On
Paush Purnima, ‘kalpwasis’ were allowed to enter the camps of prominent seers and Dandi swamis only after they showed their Covid negative test reports.
Swami Brahmashram Maharaj, national president of Akhil Bharatiya Dandi Sanyasi Parishad told TOI, “Apart from restricting the entry of ‘kalpwasis’ without Covid negative test reports on Charkhi Dadri Ashram campus, devotees and
visitors have been asked to follow safety protocols.”
He said, all Covid-19 protocols like social distancing, wearing of masks and
sanitisers are being strictly followed.
A sanitiser tunnel has also been installed at the main gate of the camp and staff are screening the temperature of visitors. Every devotee must have a negative test report to stay in ‘kalpwasi’ camps and they are not allowed to roam on mela campus.
Head of the Om Namay Shivya, Swami Gurudeo said, “We have strictly implemented Covid-19 protocols at all the camps and are also coordinating with Magh Mela health authorities to check the spread of the infection.”
Meanwhile, nodal officer and additional chief medical officer Dr Rishi Sahai said, “The health department has intensified Covid testing in all the five sectors, including the ‘kalpwasi’ sector, and deployed 23 teams for the collection of samples.”
In the past four days, over 10,000 samples were collected and 48 devotees tested positive. He said, all the patients have been shifted to Covid level-1 facility in Kalindipuram.
On Wednesday , around 4,694 samples were collected from the five sectors and five devotees tested positive. On Thursday, three devotees tested positive and were shifted to Covid level-1 care centre.
Dr Sahai said, “Mobile medical teams are checking the Covid test reports of ‘kalpwais’ at their respective camps. Four mobile testing vans comprising lab technicians and health staff were also covering ‘kalpwasis; for antigen tests. Apart from making all ‘kalpwasis’ undergo a Covid-19 test every fortnight during their stay, they will also be administered prophylactic active doses of Ivermectin.”
He said 23 mobile testing vans have been roped in for collecting samples. Besides, 12 surveillance teams have been deployed in each sector to screen visitors at entry gates.