An upsurge in COVID cases in these states and how they plan to combat it

With about 7,684 variants of COVID-19 virus in India itself, the pandemic is anything but over.  According to a research paper "SARS-CoV-2 genomics", there are 7,684 variants in SARS-CoV-2 (novel coronavirus) genomes from samples collected within the country.
The findings of the study become significant as in many parts of the world mutant variants of the virus are causing a new surge in COVID-19 cases including India which has been witnessing an  upsurge in COVID cases. The government has already issued fresh guidelines for international travelers in a bid to curb the pandemic,  among other measures. As per latest data by Union Health Ministry, active COVID-19 cases in India stand at 1,47,306, while 1,07,12,665  people have recovered from the disease. Here are the states that are battling a fresh surge in COVID and the measures they are taking to quell the rise.

Maharashtra

Maharashtra is on top with most active cases at 21,06,094. Total number of deaths stand at 51,806 with recovery recorded at 95 per cent.
The state has issued clampdown orders in Amravati, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, Nashik, Aurangabad, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli, Akola, Yavatmal, Washim and Buldhana. The Maharashtra government has urged people to strictly follow COVID-19 norms, including wearing masks and maintaining social distancing.

All religious, social and political gatherings have been prohibited in the state. Political agitations with crowds have been stopped temporarily.

With thirty percent of the 1,559 ICU (Intensive Care Unit) beds meant for COVID patients occupied, BMC decided that it would re-activate its quarantine/isolation centres which were closed in a phased manner starting October when cases had begun to fall.

According to the BMC, it has already increased daily COVID-19 tests from around 15,000 earlier this month to over 22,000 now.

Kerala

Kerala is also among the worst hit states after Maharashtra. Health Minister K Sudhakar cautioned people against negligence towards following COVID norms, and of stricter steps if the number of cases increases. He also added that marshals would be deployed to monitor weddings. The government had mandated RT-PCR certificates not older than 72 hours for those arriving in the state from neighbouring Kerala and Maharashtra, he further added.

Chhattisgarh

Chattisgarh also saw a sudden rise in the number of fresh COVID cases, triggering fears of a second wave of coronavirus in the country. The state's total number of active cases stands at2,998 as of Tuesday. With an increase in daily new COVID-19 cases, the tribal and religious leaders have joined hands to prevent the spread of fresh infections. They have made an appeal to the people to proactively follow all Covid-19 protocols in the state. The leaders also pledged their support to the COVID vaccination drive to boost confidence among citizens.

Punjab

The situation is no less in Punjab with students and teachers testing positive for COVID-19. This includes a 40-year-old teacher who succumbed to virus-related complication. She was teaching at Senior Senior Secondary School in Galib Kalan village of Ludhiana. Amid the rising concern of new COVID cases in India, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday ordered restrictions on indoor gathering to 100 and outdoor to 200 persons from March 1, along with strict enforcement of other COVID protocols which includes mask, limited gatherings and social distancing. COVID testing will also be ramped up to 30,000 a day.

There is also a possibility of reducing occupancy in cinema halls from March 1. The decision is yet to be taken. Private offices and restaurants will also be encouraged to display last tests done for all employees.

The Chief Minister, while in a high-level virtual meeting to review the situation, also took stock of the vaccination status. He directed the Health Department to plan for roll-out of vaccines for the elderly population and those with comorbidities.

Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat

In the wake of the Covid-19 wave in 2020, several states closed their  borders with neighbouring states where the infection was spreading faster. After Maharashtra and Karnataka, now Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat will impose restrictions on those coming from other states to arrest the sudden rise of COVID cases in most parts of the country.

Gujarat and MP will now also keep an eye on those who are coming from neighbouring states - especially those coming by road.

People coming to Madhya Pradesh from Maharashtra will be subjected to mandatory thermal screening. Meanwhile in Gujarat, border check posts have been set up to screen people coming from neighbouring states, including Maharashtra.

Besides setting up border check posts at entry points, the state government has also decided to start screening passengers arriving at major railway stations like Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot and Bhavnagar from different parts of the country by trains. For this, screening booths will be created at all the major airports of Gujarat.

Jammu and Kashmir

In the wake of rising COVID-19 cases reported in some states of India, the government in J&K also started taking preventive measures to avert spread of the infection in the Union Territory. The Incharge Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary issued directions to take preventive measures to avert spread in the Kashmir division. Preventive measures will be taken at the Srinagar Airport instructing the Srinagar and Budgam district administrations to set up additional covid-19 testing facilities there and to enable quick receipt of test reports.

Delhi

Delhi metros and public buses will continue to run at their current limited capacities for at least two more weeks maintaining status quo on the number of passengers, as per Delhi Disaster Management Authority. The decision comes as states like Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab are witnessing a surge in new COVID-19 cases.