Tamil Nadu issues Covid guidelines for Jallikattu, allows 150 spectators. Details here
Premium- The Tamil Nadu government has also mandated full Covid-19 vaccination or negative RT-PCR test report, which should not be older than 48 hours
Amid a steep rise in its Covid-19 cases over the past few days, the Tamil Nadu government on Monday issued SOPs for Jallikattu, a popular traditional bull-taming sport, allowing only 150 spectators or 50% of the total seating capacity.
The state government has made it mandatory for both the bull owners and their assistants who register their animals for the sport and the tamers, as well, to produce a fully vaccinated certificate besides RT-PCR test negative report at least 48 hours before the event.
They would be provided identity cards to participate in the event, a government order passed on Monday said.
"Only the bull owner and its trainer would be allowed during the registration. Those with valid identity cards provided by the district administration, alone, will be allowed inside the arena," the order read.
Like last year, for the Jallikattu 2022, too, the government restricted the number of spectators to 150 in open spaces or 50% of the seating capacity (whichever is less).
"Spectators should also produce fully vaccinated against Covid-19 certificate and RT-PCR negative report, two days before the event," the government order said and added that strict social distancing norms will be enforced.
It further directed the organisers and the participants to refrain from harming the bulls that take part in Jallikattu. "Owing to Covid-19, only 300 tamers would be allowed to participate in the Jallikattu, Manjuvirattu and Vadamadu," it said.
Earlier today, university semester exams in the state slated for later this month have been deferred indefinitely due to the Covid-19 situation in Tamil Nadu.
Higher Education Minister K Ponmudi said the decision has been taken in consultation with Chief Minister MK Stalin who was keen about students' welfare.
"All university exams are being deferred indefinitely due to the surging covid numbers. The revised schedule will be announce later," he told reporters. Presently, colleges are closed for study holidays and if there are complaints of any institution remaining open, they will be asked to close down, he added.
Amid a rise in coronavirus infections over the past few days, Tamil Nadu on Sunday reported 12,895 new cases while its active infections touched 51,335.
A total of 12 people have succumbed to coronavirus infection in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of fatalities in the state to 36,855.
As many as 1,808 people have been recovered from Covid-19 in the last 24 hours. With this, the cumulative recoveries have risen to 27,12,096 in the state.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu has also reported 185 cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19 so far, according to the Union health ministry.
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