Third Wave Of Covid-19 Approaching, Lockdown Last Option: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel

On Monday, Chhattisgarh recorded 698 fresh Covid-19 cases, taking the overall tally to 10,09,454.

Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel chaired an emergency meeting with ministers and senior officials (Twitter/Baghel)

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Raipur: With active Covid-19 cases tripling in the last 10 days, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday asked district-level authorities to increase testing and also impose restrictions on public events to prevent crowding.

"Coronavirus cases are rising rapidly and it seems a third wave of infections is approaching," Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said after chairing an emergency meeting with ministers and senior officials.

Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu, ministers Ravindra Choubey, Mohammad Akbar, Shiv Kumar Daharia, chief secretary, additional chief secretary and principal secretary were present in the meeting.

However, Baghel said that a lockdown would be the last option. "Districts should remain alert. The number of daily tests must increase and all arrangements must be in place in hospitals," he said.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Baghel said officials had been asked to coordinate with all departments, business sector, industry associations and other organisations before taking decisions on restrictions. 

"The third wave seems to be different from the first and second ones and less dangerous but alertness will have to be maintained as the infection was spreading in Delhi, Mumbai etc," the CM said.

"A lockdown will be the last option. As of now, efforts are being made to increase testing at airports, railway stations and bus stands as well as adherence to quarantine and isolation practices. If the cases continue to rise even after such efforts, then in the last stage we will head for a lockdown," Baghel further said.

On Monday, Chhattisgarh recorded 698 fresh Covid-19 cases, taking the overall tally to 10,09,454. Raipur recorded 222 cases, followed by 133 in Bilaspur, 103 in Raigarh, 43 in Durg and 39 in Korba, PTI reported. No fresh cases were reported in five districts, while 11 districts saw cases between 1 to 10.

Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Health Minister TS Singh Deo announced that he had tested positive for Covid-19 and is in home isolation. This is the second time that TS Singh Deo got infected. Deo is on home isolation after the report.