Take steps to regulate crowd during upcoming festivals: MHA to states

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday asked state governments and union territory administrations to take necessary steps to regulate crowd during upcoming festivals like Holi, Easter and Eid-ul-Fitr, amid surging cases of Covid-19 in the country.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla shot off letters to states and union territories asking them to issue necessary instructions to district administrations and police to scrupulously enforce Covid-19-appropriate behaviour and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in all public gatherings during the festivals.

On March 24, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare wrote to states asking them to consider imposing local restrictions in public observation of festivals and limit or do away with mass gatherings in the exercise of powers conferred under Section 22 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

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Earlier this week, Delhi and Mumbai banned public celebration and gatherings for upcoming festivals, including Holi, amid the renewed surge in Covid-19 cases.

"The country is passing through a critical juncture, as the number of Covid-19 cases and deaths have been on the rise in many states and union territories in the recent past," Bhalla said in his letter.

After assessing the situation, he said, states have been asked to strictly enforce test-track-treat protocol, Covid-19 appropriate behaviour and SOPs for various activities such as the opening of schools, hotels, shopping malls, multiplexes and gymnasiums among others.

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In the letter, he said, "in view of the upcoming festivals such as Holi, Shab-e-Barat, harvesting festivals, Easter, Eid-ul-Fitr etc, state governments and union territory administrations should take necessary measures during these festivals by ensuring strict observance of Covid-19 appropriate behaviour, such as wearing of masks and maintaining social distancing..."

"As has been emphasised time and again by the health experts, strict adherence to Covid-19 appropriate behaviour in public places and gatherings will help in breaking the chain of transmission and reduce the incidence of Covid-19 cases in the country," he said.

Bhalla also instructed states to publicise these to create public awareness.