Superspreader virus fears for massive India religious gathering | ABS-CBN

ADVERTISEMENT

dpo-dps-seal
Welcome, Kapamilya! We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. Continuing to use this site means you agree to our use of cookies. Tell me more!

Superspreader virus fears for massive India religious gathering

Superspreader virus fears for massive India religious gathering

Agence France-Presse

Clipboard

In this file photo taken on March 11, 2021 Naga Sadhus (Hindu holy men) gather before taking a holy dip in the waters of the River Ganges on the Shahi snan (grand bath) on the occasion of Maha Shivratri festival during the ongoing religious Kumbh Mela festival in Haridwar. India's health ministry warned on March 21 of a risk of a surge in Covid-19 cases at the Kumbh Mela -- a huge religious gathering in northern India that attracts millions of Hindu pilgrims -- and called for a sharp ramp-up in testing and other health protocols. Prakash Singh, Agence France-Presse

NEW DELHI - A huge religious gathering in northern India could fuel a surge in COVID-19 cases, the government warned Sunday as it called for an increase in testing and other health protocols.

The annual Kumbh Mela festival usually attracts millions of devout Hindus over three months, but was shortened to 30 days as India -- the world's third-most infected nation with nearly 11.6 million coronavirus cases -- grapples with the pandemic.

Authorities had already warned about a recent uptick in infections nationally, with some states imposing restrictions on movement and activities.

Virus fears have not stopped large crowds of pilgrims -- mostly maskless and with no social distancing -- from attending the gathering, with more than three million pilgrims taking part one day earlier this month.

ADVERTISEMENT

Up to 40 pilgrims and locals were testing positive every day at the festival in Haridwar in Uttarakhand state, the health ministry said.

"This positivity rate has the potential to rapidly turning to an upsurge in cases, given the expected large footfall during Kumbh," it added.

More than 12 Indian states have shown a jump in Covid-19 cases in the past few weeks, the ministry said, warning that some pilgrims could be from these badly affected regions.

Some 50,000 rapid antigen tests and 5,000 RT-PCR tests are being carried out every day at the festival. But the ministry said more RT-PCR tests needed to be done -- particularly in areas where high transmission appears likely.

Crowd sizes are expected to swell during three upcoming holy bathing days.

The government also called on Uttarakhand state authorities to ensure "strict adherence to Covid-appropriate behavior".

There were 43,846 fresh cases reported in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said Sunday, the highest single-day rise this year.

Infections fell to below 9,000 new cases a day in early February, from a peak of almost 100,000 in September.

grk/rbu

© Agence France-Presse

Watch more in iWantv or TFC.tv

ADVERTISEMENT

Biden thanks Black Americans for their support

Biden thanks Black Americans for their support

Reuters

Clipboard

During an event to mark Black History Month on Tuesday, US President Joe Biden told the audience at the White House he expects to be back next year celebrating the date, hinting at a successful re-election campaign.

Biden thanked the Black Community for their support and called on voters to choose honesty, decency, dignity, and respect.

On Saturday, Biden won the South Carolina Democratic primary - the first officially sanctioned race of the party's nominating season.

While Biden, 81, faced little opposition, the vote was being closely watched amid concerns about his popularity, especially among Black voters.

ADVERTISEMENT

Four years ago, it was South Carolina's Black vote in the state's primary that helped ignite Biden's campaign and ultimately propel him to the White House.

(Production: Gerardo Gomez) 

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

It looks like you’re using an ad blocker

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker on our website.

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker on our website.