Cases at 4-month high, Centre flags risk during Kumbh Mela

New Delhi, March 21

With the daily new Covid cases touching a high of 43,846 on Sunday, the Centre flagged a potential danger of another surge during the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan today wrote to Uttarakhand Chief Secretary, highlighting concerns raised by a high-level team that visited the state recently to review event preparedness.

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“More than 12 states have shown a surge in cases during the past few weeks. A large number of pilgrims expected to visit Haridwar will be from these states. There is a risk of an upsurge in infection among the local population after the ‘shahi snan’ days,” he said.

The Centre warned that the daily testing in Haridwar (50,000 rapid antigen and 5,000 RT-PCR) was not enough to offset the risk.

Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress and National Conference demanded expansion of the inoculation drive, saying the government should unveil a yearlong plan. — TNS

83.14% cases from 6 states

Of the nearly 44,000 new cases reported on Sunday, 83.14 per cent are from six states

Advisory to U’khand

• Increase share of RT-PCR tests
• Create awareness of self-reporting among locals
• Set up system for generating early warning signals
• Target enhanced testing in high transmission areas
• Continue periodic testing of frontline workers
• Strengthen critical care treatment facilities