Coronavirus Outbreak: Punjab Government Puts Public Ceremony At Attari-Wagah Border On Hold

The Punjab government has put the public ceremony at Attari-Wagah border to hold to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus. While speaking to news agency ANI, Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Shivdular Singh Dhillon said, "Public ceremony at Attari-Wagah border where 20,000 to 25,000 people participate has been put to hold in view of coronavirus."

The Border Security Force (BSF) has also announced that people will not be allowed to attend the popular daily retreat ceremony between India and Pakistan at the Attari-Wagah border in Punjab in view of coronavirus outbreak. The precautionary measure will be effective from Saturday.

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The Border Security Force (BSF) will continue performing the ceremonial duty of lowering the flag and other drills, a spokesperson of the border guarding force said. "As per government guidelines, congregations are to be avoided. Hence visitors and spectators to the ceremony will not be entertained. The ceremony will be conducted without spectators," he said.

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The event is held every evening and national flags of India and Pakistan are lowered by the respective border guarding forces amid foot stomping gestures and patriotic music in presence of visitors on both sides of the border.

Coronavirus Effect: SAI To Suspend Biometric Attendance Across All Its Centres

Alarmed by the rising cases of novel coronavirus outbreak, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) is set to suspend biometric attendance at its centres across the country. The coronavirus, which was first detected in Wuhan, China, is spreading fast and has so far led to over 3,000 deaths while infecting nearly 100,000 across the world. China, Italy, Korea, Japan and Iran are among the worst hit by the deadly disease.

India has so far reported 31 cases. "The coronavirus is taking a gigantic shape. In a day or two, we will come out with an order to temporarily suspend biometric attendance for our employees in all our centres," a top SAI official told PTI.

“It is one of the precautionary measures we are taking to control the spread of the deadly disease.” The SAI centre in Gandhinagar on Friday conducted a workshop on coronavirus for its officials and athletes.

"The SAI Gandhinagar held a one-and-half hour sensitisation session for its staff and athletes where in-house medical staff explained about the coronavirus, how it spreads and how to avoid getting infected," the official said. "The doctor also told the athletes and staff not to panic. Such camps will also be conducted in other SAI centres across the country."

(With agency inputs)