Social gatherings capped at 50 in Himachal

Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 28

In a bid to curb the surge in Covid cases, the state government today restricted attendance in all social, political and religious gatherings to 50. However, it gave partial relaxation of one hour in the night curfew imposed in four districts.

The important decisions were taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur here today. Health Minister Rajiv Saizal, Irrigation and Public Health Minister Mahender Singh and Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj, besides senior officials attended the meeting. A modification has been made in the timings of the night curfew in the four districts of Shimla, Mandi, Kangra and Kullu — night curfew will now be enforced from 9 pm to 6 am instead of earlier 8 pm to 6 am.

“Henceforth, not more than 50 persons will be allowed at any social gathering, be it a wedding, a political rally or a religious congregation, as such gatherings have been found to be the biggest cause of Covid spread,” said the Chief Minister. He added that the limit of 50 persons would be applicable to any function whether indoors or outdoors. Earlier, the limit was 100 for indoor venues and 200 for outdoors.

Thakur said that even though government employees (Class III and IV) were being called to office on alternate days, its impact was still not very visible. “As such, we have decided that employees will come to office from Monday to Friday while they will work from home on Saturday so as to break the transmission chain on two days at the weekend,” he said. As such, it would be five days duty at office and one-day work from home till December 31.

The Chief Minister said that the positive results of the night curfew were visible, as people were now avoiding unnecessary travel during late hours. “The fact that the windowpanes of vehicles remain closed during night travel, be it a bus or a private vehicle, it becomes the biggest cause of Covid transmission,” he said. The casual approach of people and laxity in adhering to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) was a major reason for the spread of the virus.

He said that even though there was no shortage of oxygen at any hospital, its supply would be augmented at all health institutions. He added that additional staff would be recruited through outsourcing, be it nurses, ward boys or other paramedics. “The bed capacity, too, will be augmented so that in case of a requirement, Covid patients can be accommodated,” he said. The private health institutions would also be roped in for the purpose.

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