Celebrating festivals may lead to increase in Covid-19 cases, no time to let our guard down: AIIMS chief

Lifting restrictions on mass gatherings should be avoided until Covid-19 infection rates have dropped, said AIIMS director Dr. Randeep Guleria.

A crowded market in Jaipur on the eve of Edi al-Adha. (PTI)

HIGHLIGHTS

• When infection rates drop, people can celebrate with fervor: Dr. Guleria
• SC, IMA have the government of Kerala because of the relaxation of the Covid rules for Bakr Eid. criticized
• Mobility between states will lead to an increase in cases, said AIIMS director Dr. Randeep Guleria

India should be patient when it comes to celebrating festivals, said Dr. Randeep Guleria, Director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. He added that no Indian state / UT has a high rate of positivity, so the religious restrictions should not be lifted.

In an exclusive conversation with India Today, Dr. Randep Guleria: “Kerala is seeing an increase in cases. I want to tell people that when infection rates go down, you can celebrate with fervor, but this is not the time. “

Until then, the restrictions on mass gatherings should be avoided, added Dr. Guleria added. Any event that could lead to a large crowd of people in one place will lead to an increase in cases and a strain on the health system.

READ: It is time to open schools on a staggered basis, Indian children have good immunity: Dr. Randeep Guleria

The Kerala government has come under fire from the medical community and the Supreme Court for lifting restrictions on the Bakr Oath.

A RTC conductor from Kerala issuing tickets in Kozhikode on Wednesday after the Covid restrictions in Kerala were eased (Photo: PTI)

The Supreme Court has asked the government of Pinarayi Vijayan to explain its reasons for easing Covid-19 restrictions between July 18 and 20 for the Bakr Eid celebrations.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA)has also condemned the move by the Kerala government, which comes at a time when several states, including Uttar Pradesh, have the annual Kanwar Yatra. declined.

As a member of the Indian Task Force on Covid-19, Dr. Guleria also said that mobility between states will lead to an increase in cases.

India’s mobility has increased several times since May, with restrictions gradually being lifted, he added.

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