Amid China's COVID situation, Centre asks Rahul Gandhi & Gehlot to follow COVID protocol or postpone Bharat Jodo Yatra

New Delhi, December 21: Taking cognisance of a new variant of COVID that is creating chaos in China, the Central government has written a letter to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot asking them to follow Covid norms during ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’.

 

 

In the letter, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya asked the congress leaders to use masks-sanitise and allow only vaccinated people to participate in the padayatra. He further asked that if following COVID protocol is not possible then the Bharat Jodo Yatra be postponed in the national interest, taking note of the public health emergency.

 

"Follow the COVID guidelines strictly during Bharat Jodo Yatra which is going on in Rajasthan. Use of masks-sanitiser should be implemented. Only vaccinated people should participate," the Health Minister said in the letter written.

 

 

 

It should be noted that in view of the recent rising cases of COVID-19 in some countries, the Centre on Tuesday ( December 19) asked all states to gear up the whole genome sequencing of positive cases to track the new variant. In a letter to states and UTs, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said such an exercise will enable timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country and will facilitate the undertaking of requisite public health measures.

 

 

 

He highlighted that India with its focus on the five-fold strategy of test-track-treat-vaccination and adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour has been able to restrict the transmission of the coronavirus and is having around 1,200 cases on a weekly basis. The public health challenge of Covid-19 still persists around the world with around 35 lakh cases reported weekly, Bhushan said.

 

It should be noted, China is experiencing a massive surge in coronavirus cases. Hospitals are completely overwhelmed in China, reported Eric Feigl-Ding, an epidemiologist and health economist.

 

The epidemiologist estimates that more than 60 per cent of China and 10 per cent of Earth's population are likely to be infected over the next 90 days with deaths likely in the millions.