Categories
-Top News COVID-19 India News

India is opening up too fast, too soon: Survey

Compared to other states, the Covid-19 cases in Kerala are not decreasing rapidly. To a question if Kerala could become the epicentre of the third Covid wave in India, 45.97 per cent said ‘yes’ and 35.91 per cent said ‘no’…reports Asian Lite News.

India is opening up too fast and too soon is the majority view as the government expresses concern over crowds at hill stations, as per the IANS CVoter Live Tracker.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently said that crowds at tourist spots are worrying.

To a question on if India is opening too soon and too fast, 53.31 per cent of the respondents of the IANS CVoter Live Tracker said ‘yes’, while 34.34 per cent said that India is not opening up too fast but people are becoming careless.

Compared to other states, the Covid-19 cases in Kerala are not decreasing rapidly. To a question if Kerala could become the epicentre of the third Covid wave in India, 45.97 per cent said ‘yes’ and 35.91 per cent said ‘no’.

The tacker had a sample size of 1,314.

The CVoter NewsTracker Surveys in India are based on a national representative random probability sample as used in the globally standardized RDD CATI methodology, covering all geographic and demographic segments across all states.

This daily live tracker survey is based on interviews of adult (18+) respondents across all socio-economic segments. The data is weighted to the known Census profile. The standard margin of error is +/- 3 per cent at national trends and +/- 5 per cent at regional/zonal trends with 95 per cent confidence level.

As many as 50.56 per cent respondents in the tracker said that younger leaders from smaller states like Anurag Thakur and Kiren Rijiju can hope to become national leaders, or even the Prime Minister a few years later.

A total of 35.67 per cent respondents said that it is very difficult for younger leaders like Thakur and Rijiju to emerge as national leaders and even more difficult for them to become the Prime Minister in a few years’ time.

As many as 45.61 per cent of the respondents said that young India needs young politicians and a young Cabinet, while 41.56 per cent said India doesn’t need just young politicians and young Cabinet, but a combination of young and experienced leaders.

To a question in the survey on if India needs younger and dynamic leaders as Governors instead of retired politicians, 51.05 per cent said ‘yes’, while 37.65 per cent said India needs a combination of young and experienced politicians to hold the Governor’s post.

To a question on if India should crack down on Twitter for not complying with Indian laws, a huge majority of more than 70 per cent said ‘yes’.

An overwhelming majority is still wearing masks as 75.06 per cent said they wear masks when they go out while 18.31 per cent said they don’t wear a mask.

ALSO READ-Covid 19: Second wave could ‘overwhelm’ France

READ MORE-Covid 19: Second wave could ‘overwhelm’ France

Categories
India News

Taj, other ASI monuments reopen after 2 months

The Archaeological Survey of India has in a circular announced reopening of monuments from June 16…reports Asian Lite News.

The Archaeological Society of India (ASI) said that the Taj Mahal and other monuments protected by it and remained closed for visitors for the last two months due to the pandemic will reopen on June 16.

 With some respite on the Covid-19 pandemic front, after steep decline in numbers, the district authorities are all set to welcome domestic tourists to the historical monuments in Agra.

In the wake of alarming rise in the number of Covid patients, the Taj and other monuments were shut down for visitors, two months ago.

The Archaeological Survey of India has in a circular announced reopening of monuments from June 16.

“During the closed period, mud pack treatment will be applied to the main dome of Taj Mahal while conservation of minarets in the monument will be done. The old stones of pietra dura art at the royal gate will be changed and the gate itself will be given a new look,” ASI’s superintending archaeologist (Agra circle) Vasant Kumar Swarnkar said.

 The tourism industry captains in Agra have welcomed the decision and have asked for resumption of international flights. Hoteliers have also demanded sops and a special package to help the industry steer out of the crisis. “At least some relief can be considered in taxes and electricity bills,” said senior hotelier Surendra Sharma.

Hotels in Agra have been either shut or partially opened since March 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic has virtually crippled the hospitality and travel industry, which have been demanding special schemes and sops to ease the pangs from continued shut down.

Though the reopening of the monuments would help to some extent, but until international flights were resumed, there could be no positive turn around, feel the hoteliers.


Workers in PPE suits sanitise the Qutub Minar monument area after the Archaeological Survey of India allowed reopening of all monuments in Delhi.

The 17th century monument of love, the Taj Mahal attracted more than seven million tourists annually, before the pandemic.

District officials indicated that visitors to the monuments would need to take appropriate precautions before they are allowed entry. Care would be taken to ensure there was no crowding. Initially tickets would be issued online.

For the past one week, there has been a welcome decline in the daily numbers of Covid-19 patients. In the past 24 hours only six cases were reported.

Health department officials said the city’s medical infrastructure had been streamlined, and necessary follow up measures were being taken in the rural areas.

ALSO READ-Taj Mahal to reopen as Covid cases fall

READ MORE-Annual Shah Jahan Urs in Taj Mahal cancelled

Categories
-Top News EU News Europe

Italy sets out roadmap for reopening

The move on Wednesday came as the pandemic appears moderately under control in the country, with active coronavirus cases falling,…reports Asian Lite News

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s cabinet has unveiled a roadmap for easing Covid-19 restrictions starting from April 26.

The move on Wednesday came as the pandemic appears moderately under control in the country, with active coronavirus cases falling, reports Xinhua news agency.

The new measures will remain in force until July 31, the date to which the government has extended the state of emergency declared last year at the outbreak of the crisis.

The yellow areas in the government’s three-tiered system would be re-introduced starting from April 26, adding to the orange and red ones, so that Italian regions will again shift periodically from one to another according to local contagion levels.

In the low-risk yellow regions, restaurants and all other food shops will be allowed to serve lunch and dinner outdoors until June 1.

From June 1, indoor services will be allowed, but only until 6 p.m.

Outdoor team sports will resume from April 26, while swimming pools from May 15, and fitness centres from June 1, according to the plan.

All competition sports will resume from June 1, with spectators allowed up to 25 per cent of the full capacity of the facility, but not exceeding 500 people indoors or 1,000 outdoors.

Theatres, cinemas, and other leisure venues will reopen on April 26, with the same cap for capacity.

Under the decree, exhibitions and fairs would restart from June 15, while thermal baths and amusement parks from July 1.

Also read:Johnson in quest for new Covid medicines

Regions in orange or red will remain subject to the current level of restrictions consistent with medium- or high-risk contagion.

Currently, only three regions — southern Apulia, northern Aosta Valley, and Sardinia Island — were red zones.

From April 26 to June 15, people in the yellow regions will be allowed one visit a day to relatives or friends, four adults maximum plus children.

Starting April 26, the current ban on inter-regional travels would not apply to yellow regions. Moving to and from orange and red zones will be possible for those with a “green Covid-19 card” indicating a swab test valid over 48 hours, full vaccination or recovery from the disease in the last six months.

After a robust discussion among the various parties, the cabinet also confirmed the current 10 p.m.-5 p.m. curfew to stay in force at least till June 1.

In May, the reopening roadmap might be adjusted according to the pandemic situation, local media reported.

Italy has so far registered 3,904,899 cases and 117,997 deaths, according to the Health Ministry.

Some 16.1 million vaccine doses have been administered and 4.7 million people fully inoculated, according to latest government statistics.

Also read:Italy PM receives AstraZeneca jab