New Delhi: As India is set to witness a new phase of assembly elections wherein 4 states and 1 union territory will undergo polls, Coronavirus spread in the country once again become a matter of serious concerns.
India added more than one lakh coronavirus infections in just two days with 53,476 new cases in a span of 24 hours, the highest single-day rise so far this year, pushing the nationwide Covid-19 tally of cases to 1,17,87,534, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.
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The active caseload displayed an increase for 15th day in a row as it was recorded at 3,95,192. The current Covid-19 situation makes it important for voters to follow norms during the state assembly elections.
Check the following general guidelines issued by central government to be followed in polling booth during the elections:
- Every person has to wear a face mask during every election-related activity.
- Thermal Scanning of all persons will be carried out; Sanitizer, soap and water will be made available at various points.
- Social distancing has to be maintained as per the Covid-19 guidelines of the State Government and Ministry of Home Affairs. Markers will be placed to demonstrate social distancing for the queue.
- During the process of identification of voters, when required, the voters will be asked to lower the facemask for identification.
- Besides earmarking of circles for voters, there shall be three queues each for male, female, and PwD/ Senior citizen voters.
- At any given time, only 1 voter shall be allowed to stand in front of each polling official maintaining social distance.
- If a voter's temperature is above the set norms of MoHFW at first reading, it will be checked twice and if it remains so, then the elector will be provided with a token/certificate and will be asked to come for voting at the last hour of the poll. This will be done strictly following Covid-19 related preventive measures.
- Covid-19 patients who are quarantined will be allowed to cast their vote at the last hour of the poll day at their respective Polling Stations, under the supervision of health authorities.
- Hand gloves will be provided to the voter, for signing on the voter register and pressing the button of EVM for voting. Before this, masks will be given to those who are not wearing one.
- These electors have the option to vote through postal ballot: Persons with Disabilities (PwD); above the age of 80 years; employed in notified Essential services; people who are Covid- 19 positive/suspect and are in quarantine (home/institutional).
Elections are set to be held in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry in different phases.