The health department had sent a proposal to the home department seeking extension of RESMA in view of the rising Covid-19 cases in the state and the ongoing Covid vaccination drive. On Thursday, 203 Covid-19 cases were reported in the state, taking the total to 322,281. The death toll in the state is 2789. The active cases which were 1304 on March 1,have risen to 2142.
Under RESMA, all strikes and protests are illegal and those indulging in such acts are liable to be arrested without warrant.
RESMA covers under its ambit all doctors nurses, para medical staff, ambulance drivers and all other medical staff. Several employee organisations that are linked to medical services have been planning strikes in support of their demands.
The government was apprehensive that the strike would disrupt services at a time when Covid-19 cases are seeing a rise and would hit the ongoing inoculation drive and it decided to extend RESMA by another six months.
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