As COVID-19 spikes, Jharkhand govt bans celebrations, congregation at public places

Ahead of festivals, the Jharkhand government has issued guidelines and prohibits celebrations of Holi, Shab-e-Barat, Navratri, Ramnavami, and Easter at public places to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

In a letter, the Chief Secretary of the state Sukhdev Singh on Friday said: "All celebrations and congregations at public places during festivals like Holi, Sarhul, Shab-e-Barat, Navratri, Ramnavami, Easter etc shall not be allowed in the state. People may celebrate Holi with family members in their respective houses only."

The order also banned all kinds of processions, including those on Sahul and Ramnavmi across the state.

"All activities, not specifically prohibited, are permitted outside the containment zone. All activities, previously permitted, continue to be permitted outside the containment zone. With respect to political gatherings in the context of bye-election in 13- Madhupur Assembly Constituency of the Legislative Assembly of Jharkhand broad guidelines issued by Election Commission of India on August 21, 2020 shall prevail," the letter read.

There has been a surge in the number of daily positive cases over the past few days in the state, especially in Ranchi and Jamshedpur.

According to the union health ministry, 206 cases of new COVID-19 cases were reported from across the state in the last 24 hours on Friday. The total number of active cases in the state currently stands at 1,175.

( With inputs from ANI )

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