New Delhi:
The Center has suggested a series of restrictions ahead of the New Year to tone down celebrations in the context of the Covid outbreak and the new super-infectious strain that has arrived in India with people returning from the UK. States have been asked to impose restrictions on December 30, 31 and January 1 after assessing the local situation, although the final decision has been left to them.
“The number of active Covid-19 cases is steadily declining in the country over the past three and a half months. Considering the new increase in Covid-19 cases in Europe and America, there is still a need to maintain a precaution comprehensive and strict surveillance within our country, “wrote a senior official to the states.
“I would appreciate it if, in the wake of the New Year and the various celebratory events associated with it, as well as the ongoing winter season, a strict vigil should be maintained to curb all potential ‘super spreader’ events and places where crowds can gather, “the letter read.
The letter, however, said that there will be no restriction on the interstate and intrastate movement of people and goods.
The Center’s warning comes as the country recovers from a huge spike in cases during the holiday season and its run-up. While daily Covid numbers in the national capital had skyrocketed to 8,500, the national number had risen to 97,000 per day.
During the last 24 hours, the country registered 20,549 new infections, 25% more than yesterday, bringing the total to 1,02,44,852. So far, 1.48 lakhs of deaths related to the disease have been recorded.
The letter comes as 20 coronavirus patients carrying the UK strain of the virus, believed to be 70 percent more infectious, have been detected across the country. While flights to and from the UK have been halted until January 7, the Center has started a massive project to track and test international travelers who arrived in the country in the 14 days between December 9 and December 22.
Genome sequencing of the 140 people who returned from the UK is also underway. In addition, the government plans to perform genome sequencing on the 5 percent of people who have tested positive in the country since November 23, to focus on any recent mutation.
A consortium of 10 government laboratories is sequencing the genome of the new strain.
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