Order imposing restrictions in the wake of the second wave of Covid-19 Issued by the Government of Uttarakhand on April 17, 2021
17, Apr 2021 | CJP Team
The Government of Uttarakhand has imposed several restrictions in wake of the second wave of Covid-19. These measures are for the period between April 18, 2021 to April 30, 2021, and deal with curbing unnecessary movement of the people in order to check the spread of the disease.
Accordingly, the number of attendees at marriages, as well as at religious or political gatherings was restricted to 200, while vehicles were not to accommodate more than 50% of their capacity. Swimming pools, spas and coaching classes were directed to be shut down, gyms were permitted to operate. However, in containment zones, the operation of these activities was deemed impermissible.
A Night Curfew between 9:00 PM-5:00 AM was imposed. While weekend curfew was introduced in Dehradun, in other regions of the state, the said restriction was to be functional only on Sundays. All entities, whether public or private which catered to essential services were permitted to function irrespective of the night curfew.
Additionally, the following were also permitted to escape the clutches of this curfew:
- Transport of essential goods.
- People arriving from other places via train, bus etc.
- Organisers, attendees of marriage functions etc.
- Emergency Service Providers on National and State Highways.
- Workers in industrial organizations.
People were advised to ensure Covid Appropriate Behaviour, while vulnerable persons, such as pregnant women, senior citizens above the age of 65 years, children below the age of 10 and co-morbid people were advised to step out of their houses only in cases of emergencies.
A brief view of these guidelines reveals that the State Government has undertaken a passive approach for imposing such restrictions, despite the rapidly increasing cases therein – by permitting gyms to operate, even in 50% capacity can still make it a super-spreader. Likewise, permitting 200 attendees at functions is equally dangerous to the well-being of the citizens and the State Government should have considered reducing this number. More importantly, all of this would be a huge failure if the infection continued to spread unabated at the Kumbh Mela where thousands of people were gathering.
