NEW DELHI, July 6: Even as the country recorded just 34,000 odd new Covid cases in the last 24 hours on Tuesday morning, the images of the overcrowding of hill stations with people rushing to beat the heat is unnerving the authorities.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Union ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW) on Tuesday warned against complacency amid the waning second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, referring in particular to the “frightening” images of crowded hill stations, with people rushing to places like Manali, Kullu, Shimla and Dharamsala.
“Covid-19 appropriate behaviour is absolutely essential. The pictures that we have seen today are frightening and we have to be very careful, very responsible and very cautious,” ICMR director general Dr Balram Bhargava said at the health ministry’s press conference on the current Covid-19 situation in the country.
Lav Agarwal, a joint secretary in the health ministry, also spoke on the issue of people becoming complacent due to the waning second wave of Covid-19. “I would like to highlight media coverage of revenge travel. People, fed up of sitting at home due to restrictions, now seem to believe that if restrictions have been lifted, it means that the virus has ended. The infectious disease is still among us. We need to continue following Covid-19 appropriate behaviour. Even a small mistake could prove costly,” Agarwal said. He further warned that the second wave is still existent in a “limited way” in some areas.
As the second wave declines, overcrowding has been seen at markets in various cities of the country. On Monday, authorities in Delhi ordered the closure of the Lajpat Nagar market over alleged violation of Covid-19 norms. Several other markets including Sarojini Nagar and Sadar Bazar in the Capital, too, have been warned against overcrowding.
In the last 24 hours, India reported 34,703 new Covid-19 cases and 553 deaths due to the viral disease, according to the health ministry’s data. It was down from 39,796 cases and death toll of 723 reported on Monday.
(Manas Dasgupta)