As festive season approaches, Indian government warns not to give room for complacency

Our Correspondent
Kohima, July 29 (EMN): In the wake of the upcoming festive season, the Union Home Ministry has asked all the states and Union Territories (UTs) to ensure that there is no increase in the reproduction number of Covid-19, commonly known as the ‘R’ factor, and ensure that Covid-appropriate behaviour is observed in all crowded places.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla in a letter addressed to all the chief secretaries and administrators stated that ‘the reproduction number of the virus, commonly known as the ‘R’ factor, is hovering just below ‘one’ but is high in some of the states.

‘As reiterated in my earlier letter, all efforts should be made to ensure that there is no increase in the ‘R’ factor. Further, strictest possible measures should be taken in the districts that are still showing high positivity rates,’ the letter read.

He pointed out that with the decline in the number of active cases, states and UTs were re-opening various activities in a gradual manner, while maintaining that the decline in the number of cases was a matter of satisfaction. However he said that “the absolute case numbers are still significantly high”. In this regard, he warned that there was no room for complacency and the process of relaxing restrictions should be carefully calibrated.

He stated that there should be continuous focus on the five-fold strategy for effective management of Covid-19, i.e., Test-Track-Treat-Vaccination and adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour.

Further, he urged the chief secretaries and administrators to issue strict directions to the districts and all other local authorities concerned, to take necessary measures for management of Covid-19, stating that “the officers concerned should be made personally responsible for any laxity in strict enforcement of Covid-appropriate behaviours”.

This directive has been issued in the wake of many states in the country initiating ‘unlock’ process after weeks of lockdown in the wake of the second wave of Covid-19.

Nagaland too announced ‘Unlock-3’ with more relaxations in lockdown restrictions and resumption of more economic activities due till August 1. The state’s Covid-19 tally increased to 27,653 following the detection of 67 new cases on Thursday.