Allahabad High Court suggests complete lockdown in worst affected districts in UP

Lucknow:  The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday directed the Yogi Adityanath led the government to look for the viability of complete lockdown in the worst affected districts in the state.

The court observed that if the COVID-19 situation is not handled carefully the health system in Uttar Pradesh would collapse.

“We understand that complete lockdown for weeks together may not be feasible but looking to the current surge of pandemic, we direct the government to look into the viability of complete lockdown in those districts where spread has increased alarmingly, for at least two weeks or three weeks and at least immediately all public gatherings must be restricted to 50 persons,” Justices Siddhartha Varma and Ajit Kumar said.

Prayagraj, Lucknow, Varanasi, Kanpur, Gorakhpur have been the most affected by the recent surge in Covid-19 infections.

The court also suggested that public gatherings should be limited to 50 persons.

While asking the UP government to ramp up tracking, testing and treatment facilities, the Allahabad HC bench said, “The surge has absolutely paralysed public life and all the medical aid systems have reached a stage of complete saturation. We have been informed that Covid Hospitals are over-flooded with Covid patients and there is both manpower shortage and available facilities in hospitals.”

“The situation is so alarming that if it is not handled carefully and cautiously we may lead to stage of complete collapse of the public health system,” the court observed.

The court asked the state governmnet to purchase the bipap machines and high flow cannula masks on emergency basis.

“We also direct for immediate purchase and supply of bipap machine and high flow cannula mask in ambulance to all the district hospitals and level 2 and level hospitals of the districts like Prayagraj, Lucknow, Varanasi, Kanpur, Gorakhpur where covid infection has got widely spread,” the bench said.