Curbs across India; Europe shut out
SHUTDOWN Delhi bars gatherings of over 50, closes gyms, nightclubs, weekly markets; Centre bans travel from EU, UK 114 CASES 4 fresh infections, 1 each in Odisha, Kerala, J&K and Ladakh; a dozen others detected positive in initial tests
NEW DELHI: Delhi intensified efforts to halt the spread of the new coronavirus disease by banning gatherings of more than 50 people and shutting down gyms, nightclubs and weekly markets, even as the highly contagious infection stalking the globe extended its imprint to 114 cases in India on Monday, prompting the Centre to widen critical restrictions by banning travel from the European Union, UK and Turkey.
These sweeping curbs, many of which experts believe came too late despite growing alarm over the contagion, were announced a day after the government collected 1,100 samples to test at random. Worries have deepened over the absence of aggressive random testing and creaky state health care infrastructure, with experts warning that the number of cases in the country could balloon if preemptive steps are not enforced on a war footing.
Four fresh Covid-19 cases – one each from Odisha, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and Kerala – were confirmed on Monday, taking the total number of cases to 114. These include 13 people who have recovered and two who lost their lives. About a dozen others showed signs of the disease in initial tests conducted by state authorities, potentially taking the tally up to at least 126. A 26-year-old from Gurugram and seven people in Maharashtra were confirmed positive in initial tests.
The Union health ministry recommended that malls remain closed till the end of the month and people maintain one-metre distance between themselves to guard against Covid-19, which has killed at least 6,500 people worldwide.
The spread of Covid-19 in India has not been rapid so far, but data shows that many European countries showed a sharp spike in cases once random community testing was scaled up. With the first increase in India reported in early March, the country is in its most vulnerable phase, with experts urging the government to not wait for a worsening of the situation before ordering a lockdown.
On Monday, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that any gathering – religious, family, social, political or cultural – of more than 50 people will not be allowed in the national capital till March 31 to fight against the infection. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government also directed the closure of all gyms, nightclubs, theatres, weekly markets and spas.
“We request people concerned to postpone marriages, if possible,” Kejriwal said at a news briefing after meeting a crack team set up to deal with the public health crisis. He also said that all shopping malls should be disinfected daily and sanitisers should be provided on their premises. The special task force headed by Kejriwal also ordered
THE GOVERNMENT SAID CONTACT TRACING OF THE CONFIRMED CASES LED TO IDENTIFICATION OF MORE THAN 5,200 PEOPLE, WHO WERE BEING CLOSELY MONITORED
NEWDELHI: Despite the Delhi government’s announcement on Monday barring any formal gathering of over 50 people in view of the Covid-19 outbreak, protesters at Shaheen Bagh said they will continue their agitation.
They also came up with a novel solution to bypass the order issued on health grounds — dividing into smaller groups and spread across the road that connects Noida with south Delhi, rather than being clustered in one enclosure. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday announced more restrictions to contain the spread of coronavirus under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 . All social, cultural, political, religious, academic, sports, and family gatherings of over 50 people have been barred, the only exceptions being weddings. Since Covid-19 is a respiratory disease, health experts have warned that exposure to large gathering increases the chances of contracting it. To a specific question about the anti-CAA protest at Shaheen Bagh, Kejriwal said the rule will apply to all gatherings of more than 50 people. “If protesters or any other groups continue to gather in large numbers then appropriate actions under the Epidemic Disease Act will be taken by the district magistrates, sub-divisional magistrates,” the chief minister said. The Act allows district magistrates (DMs) to take action against people not cooperating with government orders under Section 133 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. They may remove a person obstructing the government’s work or causing nuisance. It also allows “coercive action as deemed necessary” and a maximum punishment of six months imprisonment and Rs 1,000 fine or both under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.