Taking note of the criticality of the Covid situation in the country, Telangana High Court has given a two-day ultimatum to decide on the lockdown or curfew to tackle the situation.
“Within 48 hours, the government must decide on a lockdown or curfew, otherwise the court shall issue orders,” the division bench comprising Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice Vijaysen Reddy told Advocate General BS Prasad.
The High Court has asked the Secretary, Health Department to file a comprehensive status report in connection to the various aspects including directions issued to those who attended the Kumbh Mela, arrangements made to ferry underprivileged patients for check-ups, appointment of Nodal Officers in private hospitals for patents to contact in case they need help, storage of medicines which have been recovered during raids, establishment of public kitchens to supply food to people quarantining at home, list of COVID isolation centres, oxygen cylinder availability, reducing turnaround time for RT-PCR testing etc.
The affidavit has to be submitted on April 22 and the matter will be heard on April 23.
Besides issuing the directions, the court also recorded that
- No response was received on steps taken to contain occupancy at Pubs, Restaurants, Cinema halls etc, upto 50% or 1/3rd of its total capacity,
- No statements filed showing the number of RAT, RT-PCR, CBNAT, TRUNAT tests conducted between April 1-14,
- No directions issued by the state to monitor the virus at inter-state bus terminals, railway stations etc.
- State has taken no decision to seal state borders with States where COVID cases have skyrocketed.
On Tuesday, India recorded 2,59,170 new Covid cases and 1,761 fatalities.
