SC issues directions to curb Covid protocol violations

The Supreme Court on Friday issued directions to states and Union Territories to curb Covid protocol violations, expressing concern over people flouting standard operating procedures issued by the Union health ministry.

The following are the directions:

• More and more police personnel shall be deployed at places where there is a likelihood of gathering by people, such as food courts, eateries, vegetable markets, sabzi mandis, bus terminuses, railway stations, street vendors, etc.
• As far as possible, unless must, permission shall not be granted by the local administration or the collector/DSP for celebrations and gatherings even during the day. Wherever permission is granted, the local administration/DSP/collector/OC shall ensure strict compliance of the guidelines/SOPs. There should be a mechanism to check the number of people attending such programmes and gathering, and the timings.
• More people will have to be tested for the novel coronavirus infection and there must be transparency in data.
• Whenever directions are issued under the Disaster Management Act to corporate and private hospitals to keep aside 50 per cent or any other percentage of free beds, it must be strictly complied with and there shall be constant vigilance and supervision.
• There shall be free helpline numbers to redress the grievances against hospitals.
• Curfews on weekends and night should be considered wherever necessary.
• There should be complete lockdown in micro containment zones or in areas where the number of cases are high, and such areas should be sealed. Only essential services will be allowed at these places.
• Any decision to impose a curfew or a lockdown must be announced long in advance so that the people can prepare and make provisions for their livelihood.
• A mechanism has to be evolved to give adequate rest to frontline healthcare officers, such as doctors, nurses and workers.
• All states and Union Territories will have to issue directions to ensure compliance of the guidelines and also guidelines issued in view of elections, including for campaigning, rallies and meetings.
• All states and Union Territories should appoint one nodal officer for each Covid hospital, if not already appointed, who shall be made responsible for ensuring compliance of fire-safety measures.

A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R. Subhash Reddy and M.R. Shah passed the directions while taking suo motu cognisance of a series of fire mishaps at dedicated Covid hospitals in Gujarat.