COVID-19: Director of public health suggests high risk groups to avoid Holi celebrations

With a progression of celebrations in the coming days, health department authorities have suggested that highly vulnerable category of people to not participate in the merriments and skip the danger of contracting COVID-19. Holi, Easter, Ugadi and Id are some of the coming festivals when individuals are probably going to amass as per their customs.

Director of Public Health G. Srinivasa Rao has insisted high risk individuals over the age of 50-60 years and those experiencing comorbidities and pregnant ladies to avoid the festivals. Other people who wish to partake are encouraged to keep up COVID-appropriate conduct during festivities and not be in more than 4 persons in groups as per section 144.

From the second half of last year, the authorities have been making offers before significant festivals, encouraging individuals not to partake in open social occasions and to follow precautionary measures by maintaining social distancing, hand hygiene and wearing masks. With celebration of Holi, falling on Monday, the Health authorities had held a press conference on Saturday to emphasise the ascent in infections.

They said the obligation of keeping the second wave of the pandemic within proper limits lies so a much on individuals as on the public authority too.