District Magistrate West Tripura district Sailesh Kumar Yadav has sounded alert relating to post-festivities spike in Covid19 cases in the State. He cited the gatherings at shopping malls and Puja Pandals as the prime reasons for serious concern about Covid19 spike. Sailesh Kumar Yadav also talked on the exuberant rise in prices of essentials in markets.
Addressing a press meet on Saturday, Yadav said that the Covid 19 positivity rate had once again shown a rise and the second spell of increase might hit the city in the days to come.
Admitting to the reports of massive gathering during the Durga Puja days, he said, “There is no way to deny the fact that during Durga Puja, large gatherings have taken place and unless and until people start taking care of themselves nothing much can be done by the administration”.
He further added, “We have received reports of gatherings in shopping malls ahead of the Puja. The Puja pandals also recorded huge footfalls during the festival. The public needs to understand the sensitivity of the situation and at the same time, work in accordance with the administration”.
He said, in September and August the positivity rate touched 26 per cent to 30 per cent mark. The percentage dipped to 3 per cent before Puja. And, in the last few days, the test positivity rate has once again jumped up to 10 per cent. The present situation can predict the imminent problems knocking at the doors, he added.
On galloping rise in prices of daily essentials including daily required vegetables such as onions and potatoes, the state administration on Saturday announced that it would send task forces to markets for on-ground inspection.
Yadav said, “We have noticed that there is a good difference between the bulk purchase rates and retailers. As to why the prices have such gaps must be investigated and for that task forces have been entrusted. From Sunday, the task forces will visit the markets for ground-level inspection”.
The District Magistrate, who had earlier met in a meeting with the leaders of merchant associations and traders of grocery, vegetables, meat and other daily essentials, also said, “A good quantity of good laden vehicles are stalled. Some consignments have been received rotten. The matter is being dealt with all the seriousness from the part of the administration and soon there will be a solution to this”.
