Officials say, ‘Will issue host of guidelines, any carelessness in observance of precautionary measures may lead to spike in coronavirus cases’
Srinagar: Though the lockdown was re-imposed in Srinagar and other major towns of valley to stop the spread of deadly coronavirus, the authorities are now confronting a new challenge regarding prevention and containment of the virus, this time—the big worry is over Eid Al Adha, which will be likely celebrated on July 31.
The authorities are worried that people may abandon masks and social distancing that could lead to the further spike in the covid cases.
There has been a sudden rise in the coronavirus cases for the last few weeks in Kashmir valley.
One of the top officials here in the Divisional administration told news agency Kashmir Indpeth News Service (KINS) that they will urge the people to continue observing (precautions) essential to stop the virus. “Eid ul Azha must be celebrated with simplicity,” said the official.
He said that in addition to reminding people to keep wearing masks and maintaining distance from one another, the government will issue new instructions on the Eid occasion, such as avoiding the custom of greeting friends and relatives with an “Eid embrace”. “Any carelessness in observance of precautionary measures during Eid-ul-Azha may lead to a spike in coronavirus cases,” warned the official heading the government’s effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
He said that greater public cooperation will lead us to a significant drop in the number of positive test results.
Sources said that the divisional administration will finalised the standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding the handling of cattle markets, and smart lockdown measures in several places of the valley ahead of Eid Al Adha. “It is likely that the same plan that was followed during Eid Al Fitr in May for congregational prayers will be adopted for Eid Al Adha as well,” sources claimed.
Sources said that necessary guidelines will be forwarded to all the stakeholders including deputy commissioners, district health officers and the police.
The residents here in Srinagar said that with approaching Eid,people are getting careless now. “I have a sign on my shop that says, ‘no mask, no service,’ but people still enter without them, and sometimes it leads to arguments. If the people will lose interest in safety measures, especially during Eid, I fear the virus could become a big problem.”
Sources said that the restrictions in place at the coronavirus containment zones would continue and no laxity would be extended on Bakri Eid.(KINS)