Omicron Threat: Delhi Bans Christmas, New Year Celebrations

Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, Dec 22: The Delhi government has banned the Christmas and New Year Day celebrations amid a threat from the Omicron variant despite a very marginal increase in the number of new cases on Wednesday.

In an order issued on Wednesday, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) stated that no event or gathering to celebrate Christmas or New Year would be allowed in the national capital city.

The DDMA said all social, political, sports, entertainment, cultural and religious events were prohibited and no gatherings could be held. “All District Magistrates and DCPs shall ensure that no cultural event/gatherings/congregations take place for celebrating Christmas or New Year in NCT of Delhi,” it stated.

In its order, DDMA observed that there have been rampant violation of Covid norms on several occasions and the necessary restrictions are not being followed. It added, “Therefore, all District Magistrates as well as all District DCPs shall conduct surprise checks/ raids in their respective areas and shall take strict penal action against defaulters…”

The order came on a day when Delhi recorded 125 fresh cases of Covid in the last 24 hours, which is the highest in six months. With 624 active cases, the national capital now has the highest number of Covid patients in five months. The test positivity rate has touched 0.2% for three straight days now and the recovery rate is 98.21%.

No new Covid deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours, and 58 patients were discharged during this duration. The total number of deaths due to the virus in Delhi is 25,102, with a Covid death rate of 1.74%. Besides, 289 patients are in home isolation. Total number of Covid cases is 14,42,515. As far as tests are concerned, 63,313 Covid tests (56,511 RT-PCR and 6,802 Antigen) have been done in 24 hours, taking the total number of tests in the national capital to 3,21,64,981.

In contrast, India recorded a single day rise of 6,317 new COVID-19 infections, one of the lowest in the last one and half years. 318 fatalities push India’s tally of cases to 3,47,58,481, death toll to 4,78,325. According to Union Health Ministry active COVID-19 cases in country declined to 78,190. A total of 213 Omicron cases have been recorded in the country with only two new cases detected on Wednesday.

The Delhi authorities said All social, political, sports, entertainment, cultural, religious, festival-related gatherings and congregations have been prohibited. Banquet Halls, except for meetings, conferences, marriages, and exhibitions as per conditions prescribed by the authority, will also not be allowed to function.

Educational institutions, subject to strict compliance to Standard Operating Procedures issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), will be allowed to function. Restaurants and bars will be allowed to function at up to 50% seating capacity.

While cinemas, theatres, and multiplexes are allowed with 100% seating capacity, auditoriums and assembly halls can seat only up to 50%. Exhibitions have also been allowed. Delhi metro is allowed to function at 100% capacity, with up to 30 standing passengers allowed per coach. Transportation by buses will also be allowed with 100% capacity, standing passengers will be allowed up to 50% of seating capacity.

Funerals and last-rites-related gatherings shall be permitted with a ceiling of 200 people. Marriage-related gatherings will also be allowed with a 200-people ceiling. District administration officials and the Delhi police have been directed to tighten the enforcement machinery to ensure that people follow social-distancing norms and wear masks. District officials have been asked to submit daily reports.

Market trade associations have also been directed to deny entry to customers without masks. The DDMA ordered the district magistrates (DMs) to identify potential Covid super spreader areas ahead of the two celebrations. “All district magistrates shall conduct an intensive survey of the entire area falling under their jurisdiction and identify those pockets, colonies markets, and crowded places which have the potential of becoming super spreaders of Coronavirus and its Omicron variant,” the DDMA said in the order.

Genome sequencing of samples of all COVID-19-infected people in Delhi began Wednesday to ascertain if the new Omicron variant has spread in the community, city Health Minister Satyendar Jain said. The national capital is recording around 100-125 cases a day, while it has the capacity of genome sequencing of 400-500 samples daily.

“The Delhi government-run labs at the Lok Nayak Hospital and the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences can sequence 100 samples each day. Two Centre-run labs in Delhi can sequence 200-300 samples a day. So, 400-500 samples can be analysed in a day,” Jain said. “Around 100 to 125 new cases are emerging every day…. Samples of all COVID-19 patients will be sequenced from Wednesday. Through this, we will be able to ascertain the number of cases from the society. Till now, the maximum number of (Omicron) cases have come from foreign countries (sic),” he told reporters.

A day after the Union Health Ministry asked the states to reactivate Covid war rooms and enhance restrictions and surveillance in the backdrop of rising cases of Omicron, the Karnataka government on Wednesday directed the health officials, deputy commissioners and district surveillance officials to steadfastly track, trace and quarantine primary and secondary contacts of persons infected by Covid-19. Currently, around 300 Covid cases are being reported daily in Karnataka and the Test Positivity Rate (TPR) is between 0.25 per cent and 0.3 per cent. As on date, 19 cases of Omicron have been detected in Karnataka.

A day after Odisha reported its first Omicron cases, the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday appealed to people to strictly follow the COVID-19 appropriate behaviour to defeat the new variant of coronavirus. Patnaik made the appeal through a video message, saying: “Now COVID-19 new variant Omicron is spreading across the globe. Therefore, I appeal to people to remain alert and follow the norms like wearing masks, hand wash, maintaining social distancing and avoid crowd.” Stating that the state with the support of people has successfully tackled the first and second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the chief minister said public cooperation was essential.

Drawing lessons from the pandemic-induced crisis of medical oxygen in the country during the deadly second wave, the central government on Wednesday launched a programme to train healthcare workers on its efficient management to ensure its rational use and avoid any wastage. Launching the National Oxygen Stewardship Programme at the AIIMS Delhi, the Union Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar said the country witnessed an increased demand for medical oxygen during the COVID-19 pandemic, hence its rational use has become mandatory and need of the hour.

Elsewhere, Israel is poised to begin administering the fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for medical personnel and people aged 60 and above in a bid to curb the spread of Omicron infections in the country, the Prime Minister’s Office said on Wednesday. The announcement comes after a top panel of medical experts had recommended on Tuesday to begin administering the fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Those eligible for the fourth dose can administer only if four months have passed since the third dose, the panel said.

India, however, is yet to take a decision on the booster dose. Dr VK Paul, Member-Health, Niti Aayog, reiterated said on Wednesday quoting the health minister that “the need, the timing, and the nature of boosting if any will be based on the scientific decision, thinking.”