Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan urged states to limit activity during the holiday season (Archive)
New Delhi:
The recent spike in coronavirus cases in Kerala – confirmed infections increased by around 1.35 lakh between October 1 and October 17 – is the result of “gross negligence during Onam,” the minister said Sunday afternoon. Union Health Officer Dr. Harsh Vardhan lashing out at the southern state by allowing increased travel and public outdoor activity during the festival season.
Dr. Vardhan said that the “epicurve of the state had completely changed due to the Onam holidays … daily new cases almost doubled” and, before a prolonged season of festivals across India including Diwali and Dussehra, warned other states against negligence in Covid planning at this time.
“Kerala is paying the price for gross negligence during the recent Onam festivities, when state unlocking of services with increased inter-state and intra-state travel for trade and tourism led to the spread of COVID-19 cases . Kerala’s epicurve completely changed … daily new cases almost doubled, “Dr. Vardhan said during”Sunday Saamvad“, their weekly interaction on social media.
“This should serve as a good lesson for all state governments on negligence in planning the festival season,” he added.
Dr Vardhan’s criticism comes hours after a central government appointed committee warned that relaxing Covid-related restrictions during the holiday season (and winter months) could lead to a sharp increase in new cases, up to 26. lakh in a month.
Pointing to Kerala, the committee said there is “evidence that large concentrations can cause rapid spread (of the virus)” and that the probability of infection increased by 32 percent after September 8.
Kerala celebrated Onam between August 22 and September 2. The next day, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan warned of “Onam clusters” and said they could lead to a jump in new cases.
“Charity should take precedence over celebration this holiday season. My own celebrations will remain subdued due to the heartbreaking impact of COVID-19 on thousands of people,” Dr. Vardhan said today.
Kerala recorded more than 1.35 lakh of new Covid cases between October 1 and October 17
This is the second time in a week that Dr. Vardhan has discussed an increase in cases due to activity during the holiday season. During last week “Sunday Saamvad“The Health Minister urged people not to congregate in large numbers to test their faith or religion.
“No religious leader says that festivals should be celebrated putting lives in danger … no God says you have to go to large pandales to pray,” he said, calling for people to stay home as much as possible.
Dr Vardhan also dismissed reports that the Covid virus had mutated in India and it would be more difficult to protect against any vaccines that may become available in the near future.
India has reported close to 75 lakh of Covid cases since the outbreak began in China’s Wuhan in December last year. This morning, the Health Ministry said that more than 62,000 new cases had been detected in the last 24 hours.
However, the good news is that the increase in the number of active cases has slowed down in recent weeks. On Friday, this figure fell to less than eight lakhs for the first time in 46 days.
The government-appointed committee that published its findings today also said that India had crossed the peak of the coronavirus and predicted that the epidemic could be brought under control early next year if all measures are followed.
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