The Haridwar district administration has completely banned devotees from taking holy baths in the Ganges on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. This decision was made in light of the emergence of a third wave of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and a highly contagious variant of Omicron. Entry is also restricted in the “Har ki Pauri” area, which will be under a curfew from 10pm to 6am on January 14, according to an order issued by Haridwar district chief Vinay Shankar Pandey.

The order cited the continued increase in Covid cases and the threat of Omicron variants, noting that new variants of concern have the ability to spread rapidly.

“Given the effective guidelines issued to effectively control Covid-19 infections and the strict prohibition of mass gatherings for religious purposes, the ‘Makar Sankranti/Snan dated January 14’ organised this year was banned by the district administration,” the statement said. The command is spoken in Hindi.

Meanwhile, India has reported 168,063 new Covid cases and 277 related deaths in the past 24 hours, according to the federal Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. More than 400 Omicron infections were also reported during this period, bringing the total number of Omicron to 4,461. Maharashtra continued to lead Omicron with 1,247 cases, followed by Rajasthan (645), Delhi (546), Karnataka (479) and Kerala (350). The overall risk associated with Omicron remains high for a number of reasons, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in its latest technical briefing. Citing current data, the World Health Organization says Omicron has a significant growth advantage over Delta, leading to rapid spread in the community.

“A rapid increase in cases will lead to increased hospitalizations, potentially placing overwhelming demands on the healthcare system and leading to severe morbidity, especially among vulnerable populations,” it added.

Complete News Source : Hindustan Times