Delhi Records 1,100 COVID-19 Cases; Bans Public Gatherings On Holi; Random Testing Of Passengers At Airport, Railway Stations

Citing the prevailing coronavirus situation in NCT Delhi and anticipating that public functions may further spread the deadly virus, the Delhi government said that public celebrations and all gatherings/congregations should not be allowed.

FILE PIC/AFP

New Delhi: Amid the rising number of Coronavirus cases in the national capital, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority has imposed restrictions on mass gatherings up any of the approaching festivals including Holi and Navratri. 

Citing the prevailing coronavirus situation in NCT Delhi and anticipating that public functions during upcoming festivals may further spread the deadly virus causing major set back to the slight gain made in suppressing the chain in the past few months, the Delhi government said that public celebrations and all gatherings/congregations should not be allowed.

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In an order issued by the DDMA and signed by the chief secretary of Delhi, the administration noted that amid rising COVID-19 cases in NCT of Delhi, public celebrations for upcoming festivals such as Holi, Navratri, Shab-e-Barat, & gatherings in general, shall not be allowed.

The official notice stated that all District Magistrates and concerned authorities should ensure strict adherence to the order and shall adequately inform and sensitize the field functionaries about these instructions for strict compliance.

“In case any person is found violating the aforesaid instructions, the defaulting person(s) shall be proceeded against as per the provisions of section 51 to 60 of Disaster Management Act, 2005, Section 188 of IPC and other applicable laws. Besides, concerned District Magistrate should take appropriate action as per-health protocol prevailing in NCT of Delhi with regard to screening, testing, isolation, surveillance etc,” the circular read.

The ban has come when the National Capital recorded 1,101 fresh COVID-19 cases and four deaths on Tuesday after reporting close to 800 infections three days in a row – its highest in three months - taking the caseload to 6,49,973.

Random testing of passengers entering Delhi

In another order, the DDMA has called for additional precautionary measures to prevent and control the rapid increase of cases in Delhi regarding people coming to the city from other states where COVID-19 cases have recently been rising "significantly".

"All DDMA authorities will conduct random testing (RAT/RT-PCR) of passengers coming from the states where COVID-19 cases are surging, at all airports, railway stations, Inter-State Bus Terminals (ISBT) and other alighting points," said the second DDMA order, reported PTI.