DELHI BANS HOLI CELEBRATIONS IN PUBLIC AS DAILY CASES CROSS 1,100

Delhi on Tuesday reported 1,101 new Covid-19 cases and four deaths. The last time the national capital saw as many cases was over three months ago in mid-December.

Citing the spike in cases, the Delhi government on Tuesday imposed a ban on Holi celebrations in public places. It also decided to do random coronavirus testing across the city’s airports, railway and bus stations.

“Amid rising Covid-19 cases in Delhi, public celebrations for upcoming festivals such as Holi, Navratri and gatherings in general, shall not be allowed. All district magistrates and authorities concerned should ensure strict adherence to the order,” the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) said.

The order said it’s anticipated that gatherings, congregations and public celebrations during the upcoming festivals–Holi, Shab-e-Barat, Navaratri, etc–may pose a “considerable threat” of spreading the virus. This may cause a setback to the “appreciable gains made in the suppression of chain of transmission of Covid-19 cases in Delhi”.

“Considering this, it has been decided that public celebrations and all gatherings/congregations during the upcoming festive season should not be allowed in public places,” the order stated.

The DDMA also instructed officials that random testing (RAT/RT-PCR) of passengers coming from other states where Covid-19 cases are increasing must be done at all airports, railway stations, inter-state bus terminals.

The government directive said “Random testing of travellers coming from states where corona infection is spreading very fast” should be done.

Delhi is not among the states that are witnessing a huge spike in cases. As per the latest Covid-19 bulletin issued by the Delhi government’s health department, the city reported 1,101 fresh Covid-19 cases, 620 recoveries and four deaths on Tuesday.

With this, the national capital’s total case tally has reached 6,49,973, of which 6,34,595 have recovered. Delhi’s Covid-19 death toll stands at 10,967. Currently, Delhi has 4,411 active Covid-19 cases.