To say that India is now overwhelmed may not be an understatement anymore. Media reports have begun to reflect on a large scale news of Covid-19 patients dying unattended, or due to lack of hospital beds, of medications and vaccines running out in some areas, and the worse of burial grounds running out of space, long lines at crematoria, some even running out of pyrewood, or have furnaces melting down. In light of the massive surge in Covid-19 cases, the CBSE exams have been cancelled for class 10, and postponed for class 12. However, mega political rallies and mass religious congregations continue. Meanwhile, here are some things that have been reported from across the country in just one day.
Over 1,000 test positive for Covid-19 at Kumbh Mela in 48 hours
Even though Uttarakhand CM Tirath Singh Rawat has reportedly said that the pilgrim’s faith will protect them from Covid-19, the virus has been detected in over 1,000 people in just 48 hours in Haridwar, where the Kumbh Mela is underway. According to reports, over 6 lakh visitors took a holy dip on Wednesday. Mostly without masks, or any social distancing whatsoever. According to news reports, around 50,000 samples taken from people in Haridwar, 408 tested positive on Monday and 594 on Tuesday. According to a report in NDTV, the mela may end soon, discussions between the Uttarakhand government and religious leaders are reportedly underway. On Wednesday infections over 9,43,452 sadhus and devotees went for the “Shahi Snan” or “royal bath” to the main ghat, Har Ki Pauri. Police officer Sanjay Gunjyal told the media that “it is very hard to fine people [for Covid-19 violations] in the main ghats, which are very crowded.” The next significant Kumbh day is set for April 27 where even bigger crowds are expected to take a dip.
Gujarat has reported 69 deaths in the past 24 hours
Ahmedabad again topped the list with 2,251 new Covid cases, next was Surat with 1,264 cases. Ahmedabad also recorded the highest number of 23 deaths in one day stated news reports, the state now has a tally of 3,60,206 Covid-19 cases. According to the state government release, Rajkot recorded 529 cases, followed by Vadodara’s 247, Jamnagar 187 in and Mehsana and Surat district had 177 each. It was reported that the tribal areas of Dangs and Chhota Udepur only had 3 and 6 Covid-19 cases respectively while Porbandar had 8 cases. In Ahmedabad, Covid-designated hospitals will have to reserve 20 per cent beds for Covid patients as per the AMC norms. The AMC has designated 140 private hospitals as Covid hospitals and according to news reports “has warned the hospitals that their registration would be cancelled if 20 per cent beds are not reserved for Covid treatment. In addition legal action would be taken against the hospital under the Epidemic Diseases Act.”
According to news reports, the state’s Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has now asked elected representatives of municipal corporations to help curb the spread of coronavirus. The CM said that 60 per cent of the cases were from 8 cities in the state and as they continue to rise there is stress on infrastructure facilities. He has reportedly asked “councillors have to come forward to assist in providing service to the society.” He said that the demand for oxygen has more than doubled, from 250 tons to more than 600 tons.
Crematoria in Bhopal Madhya Pradesh are overloaded
According to a news report while 187 bodies were cremated following Covid norms in Bhopal, the official records showed only 5 deaths. India Today reported that cremation grounds in Bhopal are now getting 35-40 bodies on a daily basis, and bodies that are being cremated following the Covid protocols are far higher in number than what the official figures show in Bhopal. According to the report, the state government has called most of these “suspected cases of Covid-19”, however the Opposition has said it’s a tactic to hide the real figures. Madhya Pradesh is witnessing a massive surge in Covid-19 cases in the second wave of infections over the past month. The numbers however remain unclear. According to a report in AajTak, at the Bhadbhada cremation ground and Subhash Nagar Ghat, “a total of 187 bodies were cremated at the two sites between Thursday and Sunday under the Covid protocols. However, the official Covid-19 death toll remained at five.”
Maharashtra has already put strict curfew in place
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has put in place a statewide curfew from 8 P.M on April 14, which will stay in place till 7 A.M on May 1. While Section 144 being imposed across the state, essential services have been exempted from the restrictions. Public transport will be available only to emergency service providers. Health, pharma, transporters, vaccines producers and animal-related shops will remain open, as well as besides petrol pumps, financial institutions associated with SEBI. The CM said hotels and restaurants will have to remain closed, but take-aways and home deliveries will be allowed and construction work will also continue.
?Guidelines for containment & management of COVID-19 ?#BreakTheChain
(13th April 2021) pic.twitter.com/p6lQ3KMlFi— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) April 13, 2021
Interestingly the state CMO, has been one of the most transparent and has constantly shared the number of new infections, which are the highest in the country because all new infections have been reported in the public space. The state government has listed out in detail what establishments are shut, and what essential services are open with SOPs in place. No religious, social, cultural or political functions of any kind will be allowed in the state during this period. The state government will also provide three kilograms of wheat and two kilograms of rice free for the next one month to every poor and needy person. Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 60,212. It is followed by Uttar Pradesh with 17,963 while Chhattisgarh reported 15,121 new cases.
Chhattisgarh puts nine districts under 10 day lockdown
The state on Wednesday added over 10283 fresh cases and now has a total of 109139 active cases. Over 156 people have died in the state in the past 24 hours. According to a report in the Indian Express, even a remote district such as Bemetara has over 200 cases in a day. It is among the 10 worst hit states now reeling under the second wave of Covid-19. According to a report by NDTV, the situation is as bad in Raipur, where the Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital has even run out of space to store bodies. Hospital authorities plead helplessness and say the bodies of patients who are dying of COVID-19 are piling up at the mortuary faster than they can be cremated, stated the report. The hospital’s intensive care units and oxygen-equipped beds have been at almost 100 per cent occupancy for the past week.
Board Exams: Cancelled for Class 10, postponed for Class 12
The Centre has announced a change in the schedule of the Board exam for class X and XII conducted by CBSE which were scheduled to begin from May 4. The CBSE exams are held simultaneously throughout the country. However, now the Centre has stated that looking at the present pandemic situation Board Exams for Class 12 which were to be held from May 4 to June, 14 are postponed. “The situation will be reviewed on June 1 2021 by the Board, and details will be shared subsequently. A notice of at least 15 days will be given before the start of the examinations,” stated the official information released to the media.
Board Exams for Class X which were to be held from May 4 to June 14 have been cancelled. The final results of Class X th students will now be prepared on the basis of “an objective criterion to be developed by the Board. Any candidate who is not satisfied with the marks allocated to him/her on this basis will be given an opportunity to sit in an exam as and when the conditions are conducive to hold the exams.”
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