Centre Writes To States: Regulate Crowds During Upcoming Festivals

New Delhi: With the country seeing a second wave of coronavirus cases, the Centre has urged states and Union territories to regulate crowds during the upcoming festivals of Holi, Shab-e-Barat, Easter and Eid-ul-Fitr.

Union Home secretary Ajay Bhalla has written to administrators of states and Union territories to take necessary measures and ensure that COVID-appropriate behaviour be strictly followed during the festivals.

“In view of the upcoming festivals such as Holi, Shab e Barat, harvesting festivals, Easter, Eid-ul-Fitr etc, state governments, UT administrations should take necessary measures to regulate crowds during these festivals by ensuring strict observance of COVID-appropriate behaviour such as wearing of mask and maintaining social distancing, as mandated in aforesaid guidelines and in the National Directives for COVID-19 management,” Bhalla stated in his letter.

India recorded 59,118 new coronavirus positive cases in the last 24 hours, as per Union Health and Family Welfare’s data.