In wake of festive season, Dr Harsh Vardhan urges people to follow COVID-19 protocols

On Sunday, Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan urged people to follow COVID-19 guidelines strictly during upcoming festive season, failing which pandemic could once again raise its head and pose increased threats to society. In wake of various festivals such as Chhath Puja, Dussehra, Diwali, Durga Puja, Navratri, Christmas, etc. falling in months of October to December, Ministry had earlier stressed that festivity will be permitted in containment zones.

Addressing  'Sunday Samvaad' programme, Health Minister cited decline of COVID cases in country and added that if people falter in following COVID-19 guidelines during festivals n Coronavirus can again assume a dangerous shape.

"If we falter in following COVID-19 guidelines during festivals n corona can again assume a dangerous shape and become a big trouble for us. This is truth, in any religion, dharmic leader will say that people's lives should be put at risk to celebrate festivals. God has said that one needs to go to puja pandals to worship," Minister said.

"Anyone can remember ir God with a pure heart from anywhere. I would want people to celebrate ir festivals with ir family. Earlier also this used to happen, people used to celebrate festivals in small groups. I do t think re is any need for going to pandals and melas," he added.

READ: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan details on India's Universal Health Cover Goals

Guidelines to prevent spread of COVID-19 during festive season

• Planning for festive events should factor in regulation of crowd, staggered timings, social distancing and frequent sanitization

• Ambulances should be arranged for processions of long distances

• in each event venue to be identified for isolation of suspected COVID-19 case
• CCTVs can be installed to monitor adherence to COVID-19 prevention rms
• People residing in containment zones will be encourd to observe festivities inside ir homes
• An adequate number of ticket counters will be planned
• Contactless payment shall be encourd
• Multiple entry and exit points for visitors to an event
• Only asymptomatic persons will be allowed inside venue
• Maintaining a physical distance of at least 6 feet and wearing of face cover/masks is mandatory
• For entry into religious places, footwear to be preferably kept inside own vehicle
• Provision of disposable cups/glasses for drinking water
• In religious places, touching of statues, idols, holy books shall t be allowed
• Instead of a choir, recorded devotional music should be played
• Community kitchens should follow physical distancing rms
• Used face covers/masks should be disposed of in covered bins
• In case a positive patient is detected, disinfection of premises will be taken up

READ: COVID-19 tally in India breaches 70-lakh mark

COVID-19 recoveries in India crosses 60-lakh mark

After new COVID-19 recoveries, total active case tally in country has dropped below 9 lakh after a month. MoHFW on Thursday informed that only 8.93 per cent cases are active in India. last time number of active cases below 9 lakh was reported on September 9 with around 8.97 lakh active cases. 

Since almost three consecutive weeks, total number of recoveries has been exceeding number of new COVID-19 cases. Besides this, India has also increased its Coronvirus sample test capacity. In latest update by Indian Council of Medical Research over 8,68,77,242 samples have been tested for COVID-19. Also, on October 10, 10,78,544 tests had been conducted. Fatality rate has also decreased significantly in country. 

READ: India's active COVID-19 cases stands at 12.65%; recovery rate is 85.81%: Health Ministry

READ: IMA urges Health Minister to 'come clean' on AYUSH & yoga based COVID manment protocol

(With Inputs from ANI)