All ASI Monuments to Remain Closed till May 15 Due to Covid Spike

With the increasing number of COVID-19 cases, the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) has decided that monuments and museums under the central government's control will remain closed till May 15. 

The decree came on Thursday to shut all its museums, monuments, and protected sites including Qutub Minar, Taj Mahal, and Humayun&rsquos tomb as a precautionary measure.

This week India recorded a spike of over 20 lakh infections overtaking Brazil to become the country reporting the second-highest number of cases worldwide. 

The government has been grappling with treatments, shortages of vaccines, and hospital beds with the cases having doubled in just 10 days.

With the government permitting crowds at cricket matches, political rallies, and mass religious festivals, it's going to be very difficult to control the spread, experts say.

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The ASI protects 3,691 monuments of which several  are ticketed sites. In Delhi alone there are about 170 historical structures under the ASI. 

Some famous ones such as Red Fort, Humayun&rsquos Tomb, Purana Quila, Qutub Minar, Safdar Jung&rsquos Tomb, and Hauz Khas are among the most visited sites in the city receiving almost 10,000 visitors every day.