Covid: States impose more restrictions

PM Modi reviews situation as daily cases shoot up to highest after May; night curfew in most states and Union Territories.

New Delhi: Several states imposed fresh restrictions to check the COVID- 19 surge and Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the situation at a high-level meeting on Sunday as cases continued to rise with 1,59,632 new infections reported, the highest in 224 days.

The PM called for ensuring adequate health infrastructure in districts, boosting vaccine drive for adolescents in mission mode and continuing the public campaign focused on COVID-appropriate behaviour as they were critical in the battle against the pandemic.

PM Modi said a meeting with chief ministers will be convened to discuss state-specific scenarios, best practices and public health response, according to the Prime Minister’s Office. Most states and Union Territories, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi, have already announced night curfew and other restrictions in the wake of the imminent third wave. The Himachal Pradesh government on Sunday banned social and religious functions till January 24. It also prohibited any gathering of more than 100 people for indoor and 300 people for outdoor academic, sport, cultural and political events, according to an order.

Attendance of staff at state government offices was capped at 50 percent. The restrictions, however, will not be applicable to emergency services. The Rajasthan government announced the closure of schools in municipal areas till Jan. 17, a Sunday curfew and restricted market timings and occupancy at restaurants and theatres. A one-day complete lockdown was enforced across Tamil Nadu. -(PTI)