After expressing the PM’s concern over Covid violations, the MHA asked states to take steps to control people

A day later PM Narendra Modi expressed concern to so many people at hill stations and markets, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday wrote to all states and Union Territories asking them to take steps to control congestion and dissatisfaction while the R-rate of Covid infections are on the rise in many states. They were also asked to make officers personally responsible for any accommodations.

“With the decline in the number of active cases, the States and UT have begun to reopen activities gradually … However, blatant violation of COVID norms has been observed in many parts. Of the country, especially on public transportation and at hill stations.Too many people are also breeding in market places, violating the standards of social isolation.As a result, the increase in the R factor (Reproduction number) in some to the States, is a matter of concern, ”Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla wrote in his letter sent to the chief secretaries of all states on Wednesday.

Taking serious note of the widespread breach of Covid customs reported from hill stations and markets over the past week, Modi warned on Tuesday that the key to avoiding another climb is not predicting whether when to arrive but strictly adhere to safety protocols. The third wave will not come on its own, the PM said, though he said people should follow the behavior appropriate to Covid.

Modis’s remarks came as he interacted with Northeheast state prime ministers.

Bhalla reminded in his letter the states and UT that any increase in the R-factor above 1.0 is an indicator of the rapid spread of Covid-19 and therefore, the authorities concerned should be held accountable for ensuring appropriate Covid behavior in all crowded places.

The MHA said strict adherence to Covid standards should be ensured in shops, malls, markets, market complexes, weekly markets, restaurants and bars, mandis, bus stations, platforms and railway stations, public parks and garden, gymnasium, banquet / wedding hall, stadia / sports complex as well as in all areas identified as hotspots for Covid virus transmission.

It must be ensured that if the standards of COVID Appropriate Conduct are not maintained in any establishment / area / market etc., such areas will be liable for the re-imposition of restrictions, for containing the spread of COVID- 19 and the defaulter (s) will also be liable for action under the relevant laws, ”Bhalla’s letter stated.

The letter requested states to issue appropriate orders to district and local authorities for crowd regulation. Relevant officials should be made personally responsible for any relief in the strict enforcement of Covid’s appropriate conduct, it added, emphasizing that all Covid-related orders issued by state governments should be sufficiently publicized.

“Emphasized that the second wave of Covid is not over … we must guard against the complacency and laziness that creeps into the decline of positivity,” the letter added, advising states to use the period of low positivity to take steps to avoid another. surge

The letter said that even as the vaccination rate is increasing, states should continue to act according to the principle of “Dawai Bhi, Kadai Bhi” (vaccination with restrictions).

“The trial needs to be continued with the same vigor, as adequate testing is extremely important in terms of virus checking and early identification of cases,” the letter added.

The MHA previously wrote to all states on June 19 asking them to relax restrictions in a calibrated manner after a proper assessment of the Covid situation.

Following reports of massive crowds at tourist destinations in the first week of July, Bhalla along with Health Secretary Ajay Bhushan held a meeting with top officials of eight states with tourist destinations and announced of concern for the lack of majority regulation and enforcement of Covid norms.