Festivals ahead, govt to reinvigorate Covid drive

(Strap) People to be urged to wear masks, maintain distance

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 5

The government plans to roll out a renewed campaign for Covid with an intention to further opening up of activities ahead of festive seasons, officials said.

For the purpose, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla is likely to hold a meeting to chart out the new plan here at his North Block office on Tuesday, they said.

It is learnt that senior officials of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, chiefs of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), field offices of the MHA and others will participate in the meeting.

The meeting is called to discuss ways to increase the campaign for appropriate Covid behaviour in the country.

“A new or enhanced public campaign for ensuring self-sanitisation, physical distancing and wearing of masks is essential as the Centre has recently issued guidelines for further opening up of public facilities that allow more social activities,” a senior official said.

He said the move was also in the view of a long festive season with Diwali and other festivals coming up and hence it is required to step up public messaging about Covid protocols. He said the meeting would discuss these issues and chart out a public health response that could be implemented across the country in the wake of the Covid spread.

The ministry on September 30 had issued new guidelines for permitting more activities in areas outside the Covid containment zones that include opening up cinemas, theatres and multiplexes with up to 50 per cent of their seating capacity from October 15.