Five states record Covid-19 surge prompting high alert, testing at borders and airports mandatory now

Five Indian State governments have issued fresh restrictions amid the Covid-19 cases surge, which includes mandatory testing at borders and airports. 

Maharashtra and Rajasthan states have recently recorded a significant spike in coronavirus cases. In lieu of this, these states have specifically imposed strict restrictions, lockdown, and curfew in some cities. 

Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh have issued directions to strictly watch out for and screen visitors from high concentration and risk states like Maharashtra that has registered a significant rise in the past 15 days. Maharashtra’s Uddhav Thackeray government has urged people to strictly follow all the coronavirus restrictions and safety measures including following social distancing and wearing masks. 

In Rajasthan, the government has imposed Section 144 in Jodhpur till March 21. Maharashtra government has imposed clampdown orders in Mumbai, Pimpri Chinchwad, Thane, Pune, Nagpur, Amravati, Nashik, Aurangabad, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombi, Akola, Washim, Buldhana, and Yavatmal. In Maharashtra, all social, religious, and political gatherings have been banned. Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat have issued high alerts across all districts along with thermal scanning of all travelers from the high-risk states. 

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has issued an alert and asked the officials to remain watchful of rising cases in the states of Kerala, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana. Ministry is expected to soon issue new guidelines including mandatory testing and quarantine for passengers coming from red zones. 

Dr DS Negi, Director General, Health, said, “Though Covid cases have declined in Uttar Pradesh, the situation in all districts is being monitored, particularly those bordering other states. The state government is carrying out over 1.25 lakh sample tests daily along with contact tracing and surveillance work in all districts.”

Health Ministry has said that the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in India is attributed to daily cases spike in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab, and not due to detection of variant cases.