Take Steps To Control Inflow Of Tourists As They May Bring In 'Dreaded' Delta Plus Variant To State: Uttarakhand High Court To Govt

The Bench of Chief Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan and Justice Alok Verma stressed that the tourists may bring in and introduce the dreaded Delta plus variant in the State.

The Government has also been directed to review its decision to relax the lockdown during the weekends, and to permit a large number of tourists to invade the State during the said period.

The Court ordered thus while referring to the media reports that the hill stations of the State were being inundated by tourists every weekend and due to which, social distancing was not being maintained; SOP for COVID-19 was not being followed and most of the tourists were found to be without masks.

In light of the submissions made by the Advocates, the Court issues the following directions to the State Government: -

• The Court directed the Secretary, Medical Health and Family Welfare, to inform the Court about the number of samples sent to the NCDC; about the reports received from the NCDC with regard to these samples; with regard to the steps taken, either by the District Magistrate, or by the Health Officers of the concerned district where anyone is found to be suffering from the Delta variant, or from the Delta plus variant.
• Inform the Court about the Number of MRI machines available in the Government Hospitals of the State. a. Whether these MRI machines are available in all the Government Hospitals or not?
• In which Government Hospitals of the State, the MRI machines are not available in the State? c. Whether all the CHCs' have doctors appointed in them or not?
• Information with regard to the availability of the pediatric beds, pediatric ventilators, and pediatric wards in the Government Hospitals, and in the private hospitals operating in the State.
• Information with regard to the position of vaccination in the State and the number of inoculation carried out in each district of the State. How many persons have received the first dose? How many persons have received the second dose? What is the daily rate of vaccination in the State?
• The state has been directed to implement the scheme for vaccinating the physically challenged and elderly people, as expeditiously as possible. In case, "near to home clinics" can be established, the possibility for the same should be explored by the State Government.
• Consider the possibility of increasing the stipend being paid to the intern doctors.
• Lastly, the Chief Secretary was directed to inform the Court with regard to the decision, if any, taken by the State Government concerning tightening of the lockdown during the weekends in the State.

The Court has directed to submit the reports on or before 26.07.2021.

Regarding the live streaming of Char Dham temples, the State Government informed the Court that the matter was referred to the Char Dham Devasthanam Board and therefore, he sought time to further inform the Court whether the live streaming of the pujas and archanas, carried out within the sanctum sanctorum of the Char Dham temples, would be possible or not.

The Court directed the State Government to inform the Court if any decision on the said issue has been taken by the Char Dham Devasthanam Board by July 28, 2021.

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