E-Paper
Heath team to visit Bihar ahead of polls
The number of Covid-19 cases in the state is nearing the 200,000 mark, with nearly 1000 deaths as on date.
The health ministry will send a team of experts to Bihar next week to assess the situation on the ground ahead of the state assembly elections and take preventive measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 due to crowding expected at political rallies.
“We will be focusing on Bihar as the state has elections. A central team of experts is being sent to the state next week that will assess the situation on ground. Based on their feedback, we will devise a strategy to avoid super-spreading events as far as possible,” a health ministry official, familiar with the matter, said.
The number of Covid-19 cases in the state is nearing the 200,000 mark, with nearly 1000 deaths as on date.
Earlier on Thursday, the ministry of home affairs modified its latest Covid-19 guidelines to allow political rallies with immediate effect in 12 states where elections are scheduled to be held, including in Bihar. The state will vote in a three-phase election between October 28 and November 7.
“The deployment of central team will be purely for precautionary reasons. Another central team of experts will also be sent to Chhattisgarh next week. The numbers there are wavering so we need to get to the bottom of what could be causing such variation,” said the official. “Wherever a large crowd will gather when an infectious disease is at its peak, there is a risk of the disease spreading faster . Wearing of a mask,and hand hygiene is the key to prevent contracting the infection,” said Dr Srikant Sharma, Moolchand Hospital said.
