UP govt withdraws order prohibiting use of mobile phones by COVID patients in isolation wards

The Uttar Pradesh government Sunday withdrew its order prohibiting use of mobile phones by patients in isolation wards of COVID-19 hospitals, a senior official said.

Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Information) Awanish Awasthi said, "The government has withdrawn its order prohibiting the use of mobile phones by COVID-19 patients in isolation wards."
He said the Medical Education Department has now issued a new order according to which, "Patients getting admitted to the COVID-19 isolation ward will have to give details of mobile phone, mobile number and mobile charger. The patient, who is getting admitted to the ward will have to first get the charger and mobile phone disinfected."
In a tweet in Hindi, the former UP chief minister said: "If infection spreads through mobile phones, then mobile phones should be banned across the country. Mobile phones provide mental support and help cope with loneliness."