PANJIM: In wake of repeated instances of tourists violating Covid-19 guidelines across the country, Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Saturday chaired a key meeting in New Delhi to review steps taken by State governments to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak in hill stations and tourist locations.
During the meeting, the overall management of COVID-19 situation and the vaccination status in respect of the States of Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal was discussed. The Union Home Secretary sounded a note of caution in view of media reports showing blatant disregard of COVID-appropriate behaviour in hill stations and other tourist locations. He emphasised that the second wave of COVID was not yet over; and States should ensure strict adherence to the protocols prescribed in respect of wearing of masks, social distancing and other safe behaviour.
States were also asked by the Home Secretary to follow the five-fold strategy of Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate and COVID Appropriate Behaviour, as has been laid out in the Minister of Home Affairs (MHA) order dated June 29, 2021. Adequate health infrastructure preparedness (especially in rural, peri-urban and tribal areas) was also advised, with a view to tackle any potential future surge in cases.
