Rajasthan takes up bold initiatives to combat Omicron

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has announced that the state would make it mandatory for all to go for vaccination. Rajasthan would be the first state to enforce mandatory vaccination from February 1, next year. The state will also make use of masks mandatory from January next year.

Gehlot held a video meeting with the concerned government officials on Friday in which all the divisional commissioners, district Collectors, principals of the medical colleges were present to discuss the impact of Omicron and surge in the Covid cases in the state.

The Chief Minister said that this will have to be dealt with an iron hand and the state government would strictly enforce Covid protocols at all levels and Covid vaccination will be made mandatory for entry and use of facilities at various places from February 1.

The Rajasthan government has also decided to strictly enforce the night curfew from 11 pm to 5 am. The state would write to the Centre to allow giving booster doses for the eligible citizens.

Under a plan, the state government would delete the names of those beneficiaries of various welfare schemes of the state government, who refused to go for vaccination.

“ We have been liberal, but cautious in enforcing the Covid protocol, but we would not hesitate in taking the path of Punjab and Tamil Nadu that has stopped the salaries of all those who did not take the vaccination. If we can pass a law in the Assembly for making the wearing of the masks mandatory and imposing a penalty on those not wearing it, we can also introduce a law whereby vaccination would be made compulsory. The state government will give one month time for getting the two doses and after that one will have to pay penalty,” said Gehlot.

Gehlot was the first to go for vaccination in the state when the Corona pandemic broke in the state in March and by doing so, he set up an example.

Gehlot said that the WHO has issued a warning and has suggested getting booster doses. It's a major warning, but even after this warning, the Centre is not moving ahead with the booster dose. The Centre can at least allow the booster dose for those who are 60 plus and also those who are health workers. He said all the states should pressurize the Centre for a booster dose.

Gehlot has ordered that the state government’s health department should intensify the tests. This would help in detecting new cases. Gehlot said the state government has maintained all the transparency in keeping the corona cases data and has given true figures to the Supreme Court.

The Chief Minister said that the effect of the Omnicron variant is difficult to assess. We have learnt lessons from corona management and the experience should be put to the best use through efficient management. Health minister, Parsadi Lal Meena said that till now, 22 cases of omicron have been reported in the state. He said the various districts have been told to intensify tests to detect new cases of Corona.