New Delhi: In view of the rapidly spreading coronavirus infection, the Uttarakhand government has been directed to issue standard operating procedures (SOP) for the upcoming Chardham yatra at the earliest and said that the pilgrimage cannot be allowed to become the second Kumbh. A bench of Chief Justice R S Chauhan and Justice Alok Kumar Verma made the remarks during a virtual hearing on PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATIONS filed on the state government's way of dealing with the epidemic on Tuesday.

The court also directed the state government to carry out tests with the help of mobile laboratories in remote areas of the state and increase the number of covid hospitals and provide an adequate number of PPE kits and other safety equipment to the health workers. The court has directed the government to seek help from central agencies in the construction of temporary hospitals. The court also said that government hospitals should have CT scan machines and 25 percent of beds in private hospitals should be reserved for BPL cardholders.

The court asked the government about the availability of the covid-19 vaccine and Remdesivir injection and directed the state government to provide information about all hospitals and immunization centers online. The high court has directed health secretary Amit Negi to file a detailed report on all these points before may 10, the next date of hearing, and appear before the court in person.

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