[Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations] Social distancing norms will be followed: State govt to Karnataka High Court

The State government and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Wednesday assured the Karnataka High Court that all social distancing norms will be followed to the dot for the upcoming Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations..The assurance was made before a Division Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and Justice Pradeep Singh Yerur which was hearing a batch of pleas related to the spread of COVID-19 in the State..When the matter was taken up for hearing, the State government informed the Bench that it has allowed public celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi for five days restricted to one public pandal per ward, with only 20 people allowed at a time. .The Court was further told that all cultural programmes and live bands have been banned in the State owing to COVID-19 pandemic. The government has also advised citizens to defer travel to Kerala till October end in order prevent a third wave of the viral infection, the Division Bench was apprised. .Apart from implementing the social distancing norms put in place by the State government as well as the Union government, the Court also questioned the State government on the vaccination status and details of private Hospitals overcharging patients for COVID-19 treatment. .With regard to the former, the State government informed the Bench that till August 21, about 59.1% people have been vaccinated as against the national average of 47.3%. The second dose coverage in Karnataka is 17.6% as against the national average of 13.6%..The counsel appearing for the State government further said that it would receive around 22.5 lakh vials of vaccines during this month. Additional Solicitor General appearing for the Union Government, submitted that the Centre would be providing a total of 48 lakh vials of vaccines, free of cost to the State government between August 7 and September 2. .On the point of overcharging by private hospitals, the High Court directed the State government to place on record the manner in which it plans to spread awareness on the steps to be followed to curb the hospitals overcharging.The Court also questioned the State on the mode through which complainants can seek redressal if the overcharging continues. .The matter will be heard again on October 22. .[Read Union government's affidavit]