Holi revelry restricted in public places in Delhi, UP

NEW DELHI: Holi festivities have been banned in public places in Delhi due to a fresh wave of COVID-19 cases across the country.

The Uttar Pradesh government, on the other hand, has released a set of guidelines requesting that senior citizens and vulnerable groups to refrain from participating in celebrations, as well as stating that no processions or meetings will be permitted without prior administrative approval.

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority has announced that, due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region of Delhi, public celebrations for the festivals such as Holi and Navratri, as well as gatherings in general, will be prohibited.

Holi festival, parties and meetings are also banned in public places, hotels and resorts.

Senior citizens, those with comorbidities and children under the age of 10 years were also asked to avoid meetings in UP.

While the new directive emphasised strict enforcement of anti-COVID measures, it also stated that no procession or public programme would be permitted without prior administrative approval.

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The directive was issued by UP chief secretary RK Tiwari a day after chief minister Yogi Adityanath held a high-level meeting on the state's COVID situation.

COVID testing of all those coming to UP during the Holi festival from states reporting high number of infections will be required, according to a directive sent to all district and division-level officials. It also stated that no one over the age of 60, or under the age of 10, or anyone suffering from a serious illness would be permitted to participate in such events.

From March 24 to March 31, the government has declared Holi holidays in all schools up to Class VIII.

If required passenger COVID testing would be conducted at railway stations, bus terminuses and airports.

The directive also placed the task of introducing precautionary measures such as maintaining social distance and requiring participants in these programmes to wear masks on the organisers.

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