Kumbh Mela 2021: COVID-19 tests to be conducted for pilgrims at state-borders

Ahead of Haridwar Kumbh Mela 2021 beginning on April 1, COVID-19
kiosks were set up by state administration at various entry points into Uttarakhand
on Wednesday, as per news agency ANI. The kiosks would be used to conduct COVID-19
tests for people coming from outside the state.

The kiosks were set up as per guidelines from the Uttarakhand
government, which instructed district administrations to set up such centres in
rail stations, airports and borders with neighbouring states.

Also read: Kumbh Mela shoots up COVID-19 superspreader concerns

On Tuesday, the state government made it mandatory for
people coming from 12 states to provide negative RT-PCR test results upon
arrival. The results in question would have to be less than 72-hour old.

The concerned states are: Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab,
Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar
Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan.

Negative results would have to be produced regardless of mode
of transportation opted for the journey.

Also read: Hotel Taj in Rishikesh closed after 76 people test COVID-19 positive

Haridwar Kumbh 2021 has been organised in three dates: April
12, 14 and 28. The length of the festival, too, has been shortened this year
from four months to just one, keeping in mind the number of cases in the country
in recent weeks.

India on Wednesday recorded 53,480 new COVID-19 cases in the
last 24 hours, which accounted for a steady rise in daily new infections for
the 20th day in a row.