No lockdown, Haryana revises Covid guidelines

CHANDIGARH: To avoid spread of Covid-19 in public gatherings, the Haryana government on Thursday decided that not more than 200 people can gather in open spaces during public functions and not more than 50 in indoor functions. Similarly, not more than 20 people would be able to attend funerals. Directions have been issued in this regard to the deputy commissioners (DCs) to issue advisory in their respective districts to ensure that night-time ceremonies should be shifted to the day time and the Navratra programmes should also be held during the day.
The state government, however, has hinted that it would not impose lockdown. “Last year, economic activity had stalled due to the lockdown, which took about six months to get back on track. Therefore, we have to keep in mind that the economic cycle should continue in the state and that no one is adversely affected either,” said Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
Khattar has announced these fresh guidelines after presiding over a meeting called to review Covid-19 cases and vaccinations in the state. While deputy CM Dushyant Chautala was present in the meeting physically, home and health minister Anil Vij joined the meeting through videoconferencing.
The CM said people should keep in mind as to what was unavoidable and what could be avoided. This time the spread of Covid-19 started from educational institutions, so there was a need to be more vigilant, Khattar said.
Khattar claimed there was proper arrangement of oxygen, ventilators and beds in the state and there was no need to panic. It has also been directed that the district administration should plan at its level to deal with the situation and also make an appeal to the people regarding the same. The CM directed the officers that all the meetings should be held online or through webinars so that the movement of people could be reduced.
CM asks farmers to end the stir
The CM appealed to the farmers that they should withdraw their movement on humanitarian grounds. If they had to protest for any of their demands, they could do it when the situation improved. Khattar said it was the constitutional right of every person to protest and they had no problem with those who protest, however, due to the pandemic life may be put in danger, so this was not the right time to protest. He also directed the DCs to contact the agitating farmers and try to persuade them.
Beds in schools, dharamshalas, if needed: Vij
During the meeting, health minister Vij said there were two ways to prevent Covid-19 from spreading. The first method was lockdown and the second strictness, he added. “We want the situation to be dealt with strictness instead of imposing lockdown in the state. We can withstand resentment of people by acting strictly but cannot see people dying. This time Covid-19 is more aggressive. Last year, the number of cases increased gradually, but this time it is a matter of serious concern that about 5,500 cases are being reported in a single day. So we have to create containment and micro containment zones. He said that beds can also be installed in schools, dharamshalas if needed,” he added.
Monitoring black marketing of Remdesivir
Expressing possibility of black marketing of Remdesivir, Vij said for this, checking should be done by deploying drugs teams to catch them. He said people living in home isolation must be checked at least once in two days at home. For this, an app had been created.