Firecrackers have been banned in Delhi, West Bengal and Rajasthan (Representative)
New Delhi:
Firecrackers will be banned from Delhi in light of persistently high levels of pollution and smog that experts believe put more people at risk from the coronavirus, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Twitter today.
Kejriwal said that after reviewing the pandemic situation in Delhi it was discovered that there has been an increase in COVID-19 cases after festivals, such as the recently concluded Durga Puja and Dussehra, and due to air pollution.
Air pollution, which can aggravate the health status of COVID-19 patients, has increased in Delhi due to festivals and stubble burning in neighboring states.
West Bengal also, earlier today, banned the burning of firecrackers in the state on Diwali and Kali Puja. Delhi and Bengal join Sikkim, Rajasthan and Odisha, who have also banned firecrackers to combat rising coronavirus cases.
In light of this, the Chief Minister tweeted, the Delhi government has taken various measures to counter the increase in cases.
After banning firecrackers, medical infrastructure, oxygen and ICU beds will also be increased in Delhi government hospitals, he added. Mr Kejriwal also added that specific tests will be carried out and measures will be taken to ensure that the death rate does not increase.
He said that an appeal had been filed in the Supreme Court to lift the Delhi High Court’s suspension on the increase in ICU beds in private hospitals.
3. Del HC has maintained our order to increase ICU beds in pvt hospitals. Appeal filed in SC yesterday. We hope that SC will lift the suspension taking into account the critical situation
4. Specific tests
5. All measures must be taken to ensure that the death rate does not increase.
– Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 5, 2020
Delhi’s air pollution has plummeted to severe levels and today suffered its most toxic day in a year. Coronavirus cases have also been unleashed in the capital with more than 4,00,000 infections. The toxic air has raised the alarm about the health hazard posed by suffocating smog, and doctors are warning of a sharp rise in respiratory illnesses.
Rajasthan’s Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said on Monday that he issued instructions to ban the sale of firecrackers and restrict their use to protect COVID-19 patients and the public from its harmful effects.
Bengal also appealed to its residents not to burn firecrackers. The Calcutta High Court later banned the use of firecrackers at upcoming festivals.
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