The Election Commission of India (ECI) is set to announce the schedule and COVID-19 protocol for the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Manipur at 3.30 pm on Saturday.
The Union Health Ministry on Friday said it has presented the status of the spread of COVID-19 and vaccination coverage in five states with the Election Commission of India. The meeting took place on Thursday.
According to the ministry, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan in his meeting with the ECI presented Omicron as well as the overall global and domestic situation of the spread of COVID in the country. Details were also presented on the state of preparedness of the public health response within the states to contain and manage the increasing number of COVID cases.
The ministry cited some media reports, which said: “The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in a meeting yesterday with the Election Commission of India (ECI) suggested that ‘regarding the COVID situation in the country’ There is nothing to be concerned about and there is no cause for concern or concern in view of the very few cases of omicron in the election states. The Health Ministry clarified and said, “These reports are highly false, misleading and truthful are far away from These reports tend to launch misinformation campaigns amid the pandemic.
Earlier, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan had informed the Election Commission on December 27. During the interaction, the Election Commission had asked the government to intensify the vaccination program in the polling states. The Election Commission may announce the dates of elections in these five states in the next few days.
Several political parties have already announced cancellation of political rallies and are focusing more on digital campaigns in view of the uninterrupted boom.
The poll body had on Thursday reviewed the current COVID situation in five electoral states with Bhushan, AIIMS Director, Dr Randeep Guleria and ICMR chief Dr Balram Bhargava.
Health experts have informed top officials of the Election Commission to focus primarily on virtual rallies in view of the unprecedented rise in the number of COVID cases across the country. The need to speed up the vaccination process was also emphasized.
Recently, it also held a virtual meeting with political parties and election officials of Manipur and said that for the first time, the option of postal ballot will be provided to 80+ citizens, persons with disabilities and COVID suspects or affected during the upcoming assembly elections. persons.
“Postal ballot facility is an optional facility and ensures complete secrecy of voting. Representatives of the candidates will be present during the process and the entire process will be videographed. In the state, 14,565 persons with disabilities and 41,867 over 80+ citizens have been mapped,” the poll panel said.
(with inputs from agencies)
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