Surge in Covid-19 cases: Haryana limits number of people at social gatherings in NCR districts

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 24

To contain the surge in Covid-19 cases in the six Haryana districts adjoining the national Capital, the state government on Tuesday decided to limit the number of persons allowed at social gatherings in these areas to a maximum of 50, in case of indoor functions, and 100 for outdoor events.

The new restrictions will be implemented in Gurugram, Rewari, Faridabad, Rohtak, Sonipat and Hisar, said Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

In the remaining districts of the state, the number of people attending social gatherings, like marriage ceremonies and political or religious functions, has been limited to 100 persons for indoor events and 200 persons for the outdoor functions.

The new orders will come into force from November 26, Khattar said during the video conference of Chief Ministers of eight states on Covid-19 situation. The virtual meeting was presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij was also present on the occasion.

Khattar said that the Covid-19 situation in Haryana remained “satisfactory” in the first and second phases, but in the third phase, spurt in number of cases has been registered in the past few days, especially in the districts adjoining the NCR.

The CM said that keeping in view the movement of people in the NCR, the state government had ramped up testing in the NCR so that people found positive could be isolated to keep a check on the further spread of infection.

The police and Urban Local Bodies have been directed to strictly enforce wearing of masks and issue challan to the offenders. A fine of Rs 500 will be imposed on those who are found without masks, he said.

An arrangement of 57,000 beds has been made in different hospitals of the state, which is sufficient keeping in view the number of cases, said Khattar.

Also, sufficient number of oxygen cylinders, ventilators, ICU beds, etc., is available in the state, the Chief Minister added.

He said that the state government had further strengthened the home isolation care of COVID-19 patients so that they could be provided treatment facilities at their homes.