‘Open invitation to virus,’ GoI rings alarm bell for crowd flouting Covid-19 norms at tourist hubs

As the heatwave continues to swirl across the nation,people visited cold regions to get relieved amid the second wave of Covid-19infection. Several pictures from different tourist spots have been doing roundson the internet showing how careless and fearless people have become as theyflout Covid appropriate behavior.

Taking cognizanceof the matter, the Government of India on Friday has rung an alarm bell for thecrowd defying Covid-19 norms and enjoying in groups.

The second wave of coronavirus is not over and everyonemust continue to follow Covid appropriate behavior, the government stressed onFriday.

Addressing the Health Ministry press briefing, NITIAayog's Member, Health, V.K. Paul said: "We cannot lower our guard. Needto continue following Covid appropriate behavior as it is not the end of thepandemic. Visuals of crowds not maintaining social distancing at tourist placesare a serious cause of concern."

Also cautioning people that the second wave is not over,Joint Secretary, Health, Lav Agarwal, said: "It is necessary to keepfollowing Covid protocols in order to close the second wave fully."

Showing a video from Kempty falls in Uttarakhand'sMussoorie, where a large crowd of people can be seen flouting all Covidprotocols, he asked: "Is it not an open invitation to the virus to infectus?"

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About the surge in cases in other countries like the UK,Russia and Bangladesh, Agarwal said: "In other countries, we are observinga surge in overall cases. In the United Kingdom, during Euro 2020 matches, asudden surge in cases was observed. Russia is seeing a third peak in cases.Bangladesh witnessed more cases in the third peak than the second peak."

Pointing to the decline in daily new cases in the countryduring the second wave, he said: "More than half of the total cases in thecountry are primarily reported from two states - Maharashtra and Kerala andspread of infection concentrated in a limited geography."

He said that 66 districts have reported more than 10 percent positivity for the week ending July 8 and 80 percent of new cases arereported from 90 districts that need focused attention.