New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) will convene a virtual conference with the Union Health Secretary and the Chief Health Secretaries of the five poll-bound states today (January 22), reports said.
The review meeting will discuss the EC's ban on election road shows and rallies. Election rallies and roadshows have been banned by the Election Commission, as India continues to see an increase in covid-19 cases.
On January 8, while declaring the dates for elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab, and Manipur, ECI had ordered a prohibition on physical rallies, road and bike shows, and similar campaigning events until January 15.
Further on January 15, the poll panel prolonged the prohibition until January 22; however, it authorized political parties to hold indoor gatherings of up to 300 persons or 5% of the hall's capacity, whichever is greater, or the prescribed limit set by state disaster management authorities.
The advancement of immunization will be a critical aspect in allowing for relaxation. Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Goa are the five states that will vote.
The goal of the Election Commission is to vaccinate as many voters as possible before the elections in these states.
Uttar Pradesh, which has 98,238 active Covid-19 cases, has vaccinated 96% of its population with the first dosage for everyone aged 18 and up.
On the other hand, the first dosage of the covid-19 vaccine was given to 99 percent of Uttarakhand's population, and the second dose was given to 84 percent. In comparison, Goa has administered the second dose of the covid-19 vaccination to 98 percent of its citizens over the age of 18.
Meanwhile, according to the Ministry of Health data on Friday, India registered 3,47,254 new covid-19 cases and 703 deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the total fatality rate to 4,88,396. There are now 20,18,825 active cases.
In the last 24 hours, the active Covid-19 caseload has grown by 94,774 cases. Today, 2,51,777 recoveries were made in the country, bringing the overall number to 3,60,58,806.
