Unnecessary panic on Covid-19 causing more harm, says Centre
NEW DELHI: As India grapples with a raging second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, the government on Monday sought to allay people’s fears, saying unnecessary panic is causing more harm than good.
Addressing a joint press conference with other senior functionaries, joint secretary in the health ministry Lav Agarwal stressed on the need for vaccination and observing Covid-19 appropriate behaviours.
Agarwal said many people have been found to be occupying hospital beds out of panic.
Hospital admission should only be on the advice of doctors, he stressed.
With 352,991 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in the 24-hours to Monday, the highest single-day rise so far, India’s total tally of Covid-19 cases has climbed to 17,313,163 while active cases have crossed the 2.8 million mark, according to the health ministry.
The death toll increased to 195,123 with a record 2,812 new fatalities, the data showed.
Active cases have increased to 2,813,658 comprising 16.25% of the total infections, the data showed.
THE COURT SAID ANY PERSON STEPPING OUTSIDE SHALL HAVE TO WEAR A MASK COVERING THEIR NOSE AND MOUTH
MUMBAI: Citizens should practice restraint and discipline amid the surge in COVID-19 cases before blaming the government, the Aurangabad bench of Bombay High Court said on Monday while passing several directions on the pandemic.
A division bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and B U Debadwar directed that all persons, including public servants not on duty and doctors and paramedical staff, carry their Aadhaar cards while stepping out of their homes and also wear masks.
“We as citizens should show some loyalty to our place and sensibility before blaming the government. Residents need to practice restraint and discipline,” Justice Ghuge said.
The court noted that schemes and systems are good but it is humans who destroy them and make them rotten.
“We see youngsters, girls and boys, loitering outside without any purpose. People are travelling on bikes on triples and sometimes even four persons without helmets and masks,” the court said.
The court said any person stepping outside shall have to wear a mask covering their nose and mouth.
“Wearing a mask below the chin or exposing their mouth or chin shall also be booked as such people often turn out to be super spreaders of coronavirus,” Justice Ghuge said.
The court said no member of any political party or an influential person shall use his influence to help a lockdown violator.
The bench had last week taken up suo motu (on its own) cognisance of COVID-19 related issues like lack of oxygen, Remdesivir injections, people not following lockdown restrictions etc.
The court said it had no intention to pass any order that would interfere with the government’s policy of equal distribution of oxygen and Remdesivir injections.
“There would be no grabbing of share of Remdesivir injections or oxygen supply to Aurangabad from other districts in the state. The government, both Union and State, has its policy of equal distribution and we do not intend to disturb it,” the court said.