Rise in Covid cases: Gujarat health minister advises those with symptoms, comorbidities to skip Rath Yatra

The minister was interacting with media persons on the sidelines of an event to highlight achievements of 11 years of PM Narendra Modi government at the Centre.

Replying to a question on the rising number of Covid cases in the state, Patel said, “This, perhaps, cannot be called a wave, but it is the fourth occasion (in the last five years) when Covid cases are increasing.”

Patel said that the current variants of Covid are of the Omicron family, but not “very deadly”. Covid cases are increasing gradually over the past 25 days, he added. The health minister said, “This is not a trend that can cause damage or mortality, but one should certainly be careful. If one is experiencing symptoms like cold and cough, throat pain etc., they should quarantine themselves and start symptomatic treatment.”

He said that pregnant women, those with comorbidities or suffering from more than one infections, and the elderly people should be careful and not go to crowded places.

In the context, replying to a question on Gujarat government’s plan for Rathyatra in the wake of the rise in cases of Covid, the minister said, “People who have symptoms of Covid, like cough and cold, should not go to Rathyatra. Comorbid patients, elderly people, and those who are facing health difficulties should do ‘darshan’ of Lord Jagannath from their respective homes so that they do not pass on the infection and cause damage to (other) comorbid patients.”

Patel said that Gujarat government has ensured arrangements, like beds, oxygen, medicines etc, which were there during earlier Covid phases. “The (current) situation is not very serious. The cases might be increasing, but we are continuously monitoring them,” he said.

The annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath is scheduled to be carried out in Ahmedabad city on June 27.

Till Tuesday, the number of total active Covid cases in Gujarat was 1,227.

The state government has officially reported one death while at least four other patients with comorbidities have lost their lives during the latest surge in cases.