PATNA
: The state government is seriously contemplating fresh restrictions in the wake of recent spurt in Covid cases.
The fresh restrictions may come into effect from January 6, as the existing guidelines for Covid-19, as decided by the state’s crisis management group (CMG), is effective till January 5, a home department official said on Monday.
As CM Nitish Kumar hinted, the state government would convene a CMG meeting on Tuesday and take a decision on imposing fresh restrictions. The CMG may decide restrictions like night curfew, closure of parks and gardens and regulating the opening of educational institutions and the opening hours for markets.
“Covid cases have suddenly increased in the state. Many doctors have been affected. Situation is alarming. Now, when the people arriving at the janata darbar too have been affected, we will have to look into the matter. We will take feedback from all places/districts to make a decision by tomorrow,” Nitish said.
The CM also said the state government has made all arrangements for treatment of Covid patients in all districts. “There is no dearth of medicines. There is no problem of oxygen. All arrangements have been made,” he said.
To a question, Nitish said he would visit Aurangabad on Tuesday as part of his ‘Samaj Sudhar Abhiyan‘ and the decisions regarding the future programmes under the social reforms campaign would be taken in due course after assessing the Covid-19 situation in the respective region.
When asked whether assembly polls in five states, including neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, should be deferred in view of the fresh Covid wave, Nitish said, “It is for the states concerned to decide. Though if we go by precedence, Kerala went to the assembly polls while reporting a high number of Covid-19 cases. Bihar, too, was not in a good shape when the last assembly polls were held.”
.