In a bid to prevent a further hike in COVID cases, the UP government announced its decision to suspend all inter-state bus services offered by Uttar Pradesh Transport Corporation on Sunday. Announcing this order, the officials stated that the intervention will block the contamination from seeping into the rural areas of the state. While the inter-state services have been stopped, the intra-state facilities of UPSRTC shall remain functional with 50% capacity.

COVID help desks set up at railway stations and bus stops across the state

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The Additional Chief Secretary Information, Navneet Sehgal was quoted saying, "The buses of Uttar Pradesh Transport Corporation will no longer be sent to other states." Further, he mentioned that current guidelines for intra-state services will continue to be in place and all such facilities will operate with 50% occupancy. It is to be noted that the officer made no remarks about the entry of buses, arriving from different states in the country.

"We have set up COVID help desks at every bus stand and railway stations to check the health of the people coming from other states. If found sick, they are being given medicines and are being quarantined," the official stated. During the current uncertain circumstances, migrant workers are returning back from different states in the country. In view of this, the state government is working on multiple measures to prevent them from being agents of accelerated infection.

Widespread COVID testing programs in UP from May 4

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Strengthening the battle against the pandemic, the UP government is going to implement extensive COVID testing drives in the state from May. Under this initiative, households across rural and urban areas shall witness rapid antigen diagnostic tests. Through this program, the state administration envisions a comprehensive execution of its formula of 'testing, tracking and tracing'.