Omicron: India takes preventive measures in the face of increasing cases
Audio 01:14
Covid test of a traveler at Bombay station, Thursday 23 December 2021. AP - Rafiq Maqbool
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
The country of Narendra Modi is in turn struck by the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
Big cities like New Delhi and Bombay have seen the number of new cases increase tenfold in 10 days.
And even if the situation is still under control, with only 13,000 new cases in 24 hours, the regional authorities, shocked by the murderous wave of last May, are taking the lead and starting to close certain public places and businesses.
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From our correspondent in New Delhi
,
Sébastien Farcis
Bolts unscrewed, engine bare, Prakash Pandey quickly got to work on a motorcycle to be repaired.
He has little time to finish this job because his garage, located on a shopping street in southern New Delhi, now has to close every other day to reduce crowds.
“
Today, I'm open, tomorrow I'm closing and the store next door can open,
” he describes.
But that's okay, we understand that during a pandemic, you have to make an effort.
The government is doing this for us, not for them.
"
►
To read also: India: several states take measures against the threat of the Omicron variant
Closed swimming pools, gyms and cinemas
After the tidal wave of contamination last May, Indians had returned to an almost normal life in recent months, and the number of new cases of Covid-19 had fallen very low.
But the arrival of the
Omicron variant changes the situation
and the contaminations climb again.
The New Delhi authorities are thus imposing these alternative store closures.
All swimming pools, gyms and cinemas have also been closed since Tuesday, December 28.
And an enforced curfew from 10 p.m., which will restrict New Year's celebrations.
Other cities are deploying similar measures, while still hoping that the vaccination, received by 60% of adults, will moderate the effects of this new wave.
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