As 1.61 lakh more get COVID-19, 879 die; let’s look at our safety protocols

The raging surge of COVID19 cases and reports from several states of hospitals running out of beds and queues of ambulances with dead bodies forming outside crematoriums have not deterred thousands of citizens in the countryPeople throng Damdama Sahib on the ocassion of Khalsa Sirjana Diwas and Baisakhi in BathindaScores of devotees were pictured huddled together at religious places mostly in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh which is among the top states reporting highest number of cases and which on Tuesday reported its highestever singleday spike of 18021 casesPeople thronged religious sites on the occasion of Navratri and Baisakhi The COVID19 safety protocols call for mandatory wearing of face mask and maintaining a physical distance of 6 feet However all rules went for a toss on Tuesday at these places and also at Haridwar where Kumbh Mela is ongoing According to an Indian Express report which quoted medical department officials 102 of the 18169 devotees tested between 1130 pm on Sunday and 5 pm on Monday were found COVID19 positiveThe blatant violation of COVID19 prevention rules continues despite India registering record high daily cases The Union health ministry on Tuesday morning confirmed 161736 new cases and 879 deaths in the past 24 hoursUnion min Santosh Gangwar tests veUnion minister Santosh Gangwar on Tuesday informed that he has tested positive for COVID19 ldquoI want to inform you that my Corona test report has come back positive I donrsquot have any symptoms I request that all the people who came in contact with me please follow the Corona safety rules Together we will win this epidemicrdquo he tweetedDevotees offer prayers at Longa Wali Devi Temple on the first day of Navratri in Amritsar on TuesdayUP govtrsquos claim of control over COVID false SP chiefSamajwadi Party SP chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday accused the Yogi Adityanath government of spreading false propaganda on the issue of controlling coronavirus saying there is a ldquoshortagerdquo of beds and vaccines in Uttar Pradesh ldquoThere is a crisis in UP due to CoronavirusDevotees at Maa Durga temple on on the first day of Navratri festival in Varanasi on TuesdayThe BJP government here has to answer as to why it indulged in false propaganda on controlling Coronavirus There is a shortage of vaccines tests doctors beds and ambulances There is delay in test reports and black marketing of medicines Why is the BJP government silent on thisrdquo he tweeted in Hindi ldquoWhere is the star campaignerrdquo he said without naming any oneApplicants huddle together to file their nomination form for UP Gram Panchayat election in Mirzapur on Tuesday13689453Total number of cases in the country as of Sunday171058Total no of deaths due to the virus in India12253697Patients Recovered and discharged in India as of Sunday108533085Total no of people vaccinated so farThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever