Medical experts believe that older people are at higher risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus.
Mumbai:
Temples in Maharashtra, closed since March due to the Covid pandemic, will reopen soon, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Sunday, while offering Diwali greetings to the state. Thackeray, who also said schools (classes 9-12) could reopen after the holiday season, said SOPs to prevent overcrowding and minimize transmission of the virus would be launched after Diwali.
Thackeray, who was urged to sanction the reopening of places of worship in the state, said he had resisted because of the risk to visiting older people. Medical experts believe that older people (over the age of 60) are at higher risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus.
“When will the temples open? They will open soon. After Diwali we will create POEs for this. Older people visit temples and are at risk (of contracting Covid). Therefore, overcrowding should be avoided … whether in temples , mosques or anywhere else, “Thackeray said.
The Chief Minister said that although the SOPs would be released later, the wearing of face masks when visiting places of worship in the state would be mandatory. He placed particular emphasis on that and warned people that those found without masks would be fined.
“People are criticizing me. I’m ready to face that. I’m wary of older people. If a Covid-positive person doesn’t have a mask, they can infect another 400 … these are figures from doctors,” he said.
The reopening of temples in the state had sparked a bitter dispute between Mr. Thackeray and Governor BS Koshyari early last month; the governor, in a letter full of sarcasm, asked the chief minister if he had “become a layman.”
The Chief Minister replied that his Hindutva did not require a certificate of authenticity and that the government would only make a decision on this matter after “careful consideration”.
In today’s speech, Thackeray addressed some of these considerations and concerns, including a possible second wave of infections in the state, a wave triggered by a lack of social distancing during the holiday season.
“Everyone has cooperated with us since Holi … and therefore we are a little stress free. But I am a little worried about the second wave. So far we have celebrated all the festivals carefully and indoors, so I want to ask you May I also celebrate Diwali in this way, “he said.
The Chief Minister and several other leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan, have emphasized the need to minimize contact and maximize social distancing during festivals, to ensure that the virus does not spread.
Thackeray also pointed to the national capital Delhi, which has seen a worrying increase in cases in the past 10 days coinciding with an increase in air pollution, to appeal against the outbreak of firecrackers this Diwali.
“In Delhi we are seeing a spike. They say it is due to increased pollution … I haven’t been there, but that’s what they say. So I would like to ask you not to pop the cookies during Diwali.” he said.
The Chief Minister did not specifically prohibit this, as several other states have done, including Delhi, but called for “control” of the public.
“During Diwali I am not trying to ban you. I am not trying to impose ’emergency’, but asking for collective cooperation. We do not create pollution,” he added.
Maharashtra has recorded more than 17.14 lakh of cases since the pandemic began, with more than 45,000 of those cases resulting in deaths. However, the number of active cases in the state has dropped to just over one lakh, with nearly 15.7 lakh of people having recovered from the infection.
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