New Delhi: Sarojini Nagar market on Saturday opened for people following the odd-even rule, while enforcement teams of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) removed encroachments to prevent overcrowding of shops amid rising COVID cases in the national capital.
Sarojini Nagar Market Traders Association informed that shops are open on odd-even basis, but due to weekend rush and Christmas, the crowd kept increasing, news agency PTI reported.
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The action comes after the Delhi High Court expressed displeasure over people violating the COVID protocol while sharing concerns over large gatherings.
The Delhi government on Friday ordered that shops in Sarojini Nagar market operate on an odd-even basis over the weekend as the place witnessed a large gathering of people over the past few days, as well as a spike in COVID-19 cases. in between. Omicron threat.
This decision was taken in the meeting of market stakeholders, where it was also instructed that all the shopkeepers of the market should ensure 100% vaccination of their employees in the vaccination camp set up there.
“Shops are open on odd-even basis but the crowd is same as it was last week. It is increasing since morning due to weekend rush and Christmas. What purpose will be served by implementing odd-even scheme in Sarojini Nagar market? Everything else is open, all other markets are open but only this market is being considered as a potential super spreader,” said Ashok Randhawa, president of Sarojini Nagar Mini Market Traders Association.
“If we have to fight covid and omicron, the norms should be same for all. There is no restriction on people coming to the market, but if the shopkeepers are selling goods to them then there is a ban? He was quoted as saying by PTI.
According to the news agency, enforcement teams were patrolling the market and regular announcements were being made to maintain social distancing and wear masks.
“In pursuance of the High Court order, NDMC enforcement teams along with Delhi Police team are carrying out massive anti-encroachment drive in Sarojini Nagar market to ensure that there is no overcrowding in the market today,” said a senior citizen. Said civic official.
“The district administration has ordered odd and equitable opening of shops and tehbazaris on weekends. This is being implemented. A meeting was held with all the stakeholders in the market today to make them aware about the High Court order. No laxity will be allowed in the market and the order of the court will be followed in letter and spirit.
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Total omicron cases in India is 415. reach to
A total of 415 cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 have been detected in India so far, of which 115 have been cured or migrated, Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday showed. .
Maharashtra has reported maximum 108 omicron cases, followed by Delhi with 79, Gujarat 43, Telangana 38, Kerala 37, Tamil Nadu 34 and Karnataka 31.
Meanwhile, the central government has deployed multidisciplinary central teams in 10 states that are reporting increasing numbers of either omicron and COVID-19 cases or slow vaccination pace.
According to the Union Health Ministry’s office memorandum, these 10 states are Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Mizoram, Karnataka, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Punjab.
These teams will be deployed in the states for three to five days, and they will work with the state health officials, PTI reported.
The memo informed that the teams will specifically focus on the areas of contact-tracing, including surveillance and control operations and COVID-19 testing, including sending enough samples from clusters to the INSACOG network for genome sequencing.
They will also look at implementing COVID-appropriate practices, availability of hospital beds, adequate logistics including ambulances, ventilators and medical oxygen, and COVID-19 vaccination progress.
The health ministry has written that state-level central teams will assess the situation, suggest remedial action and submit a report on public health activities by 7 pm every evening, apart from submitting to state governments.
(with agency input)
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