Mass gatherings cancelled in Himachal

Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 12

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today said the government was geared up to meet the threat of coronavirus, yet directions had been issued to all government functionaries to cancel mass gatherings and functions as a precautionary measure.

The government also notified the Himachal Pradesh Epidemic Disease (Covid-19) Regulations, 2020, for surveillance, prevention and control of coronavirus under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.

Making a statement in the Vidhan Sabha, he said 428 persons from the state had travelled abroad but all had tested negative. “While the Bureau of Immigration had sent information regarding 268 persons, the remaining 160 persons had themselves reported about their foreign travel history,” he disclosed.

The government has also issued an order where all fairs, festivals, meals and tournaments or any other such events, which result in congregation or gatherings of a large number of people, may be postponed till the situation improves. It has also been specified that if the event is linked to a particular time from religious point of view, the necessary advisory may be issued to avoid travel unless and until there are compelling reasons.

He said all DCs and other officials had been issued an advisory on March 6 to not hold any mass gatherings as a preventive measure. If, at all, it was necessary to attend such gathering, every individual must take precautionary measures, he added.

He further said as per an advisory by the Government of India, mass gatherings must be avoided. “It is advisable to postpone and avoid holding and attending mass gatherings in view of the threat of coronavirus,” he said. All visas had been cancelled and everyone must cooperate in preventing the spread of the virus.

RD Dhiman, Principal Secretary (Health), said the Himachal Pradesh Epidemic Disease (Covid-19) Regulations, 2020, would come into force immediately. Following this, coronavirus would now be treated as an epidemic and issues like home quarantine, institutional quarantine and isolation facility had been defined very clearly.

The issuance of these regulations would also make it binding on all clinics, hospitals and practitioners to notify any such persons who is found to be having any symptoms of the virus. In case of contravention of these regulations, proceedings would be initiated.