By publishing a new set of guidelines, which will take effect until December 31, the MHA has asked states to strictly enforce SOPs in various activities, appropriate Covid behavior, and to be careful and regulate crowds.
Citing the recent spike in new cases in some states / UT, the ongoing festival season, and the onset of winter, the MHA has asked states to maintain caution and strictly follow the prescribed containment strategy.
The main focus of the guidelines is to consolidate the substantial gains that have been made against the spread of Covid-19, which is visible in the steady decline in the number of active cases in the country, the MHA said.
States and UT have been asked to ensure careful demarcation of containment zones by district authorities, at the micro level, taking into account the guidelines prescribed by the MoHFW in this regard.
Within the demarcated containment zones, the containment measures prescribed by the MoHFW will be scrupulously followed. These include:
- Strict perimeter control to ensure that there is no movement of people in or out of these areas, except for medical emergencies and to maintain the supply of essential goods and services.
- Intensive house-to-house surveillance by surveillance teams trained for this purpose
- The tests will be performed according to the prescribed protocol.
- List of contacts to be made with respect to all persons found positive, together with their tracking, identification, quarantine and contact tracking for 14 days (80 percent of contacts to be tracked in 72 hours).
- Prompt isolation of Covid-19 patients in home / treatment facilities should be ensured (subject to adherence to home isolation guidelines).
- Clinical interventions will be administered as prescribed.
- Surveillance of ILI / SARI cases will be carried out in health facilities or mobile extension units or through fever clinics in the buffer zones.
- Awareness will be raised in communities about appropriate Covid-19 behavior.
The MHA has said that the local district, police and municipal authorities will be responsible for ensuring that prescribed containment measures are strictly followed. State / UT governments will guarantee the responsibility of the officials involved in this regard, he said.
Appropriate behavior for Covid
The center has also asked the states, UT to take all necessary measures to promote appropriate Covid-19 behavior and ensure the strict enforcement of the use of face masks, hand hygiene and social distancing.
To enforce the basic requirement to wear face masks, states and UTs may consider administrative actions, including imposing appropriate fines, on people who do not wear face masks in public and work spaces.
For the observance of social distancing in crowded places, especially in markets, weekly bazaars and public transport, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) will issue an SOP, which will be strictly enforced by the states and UT.
National guidelines for the management of Covid-19 across the country will continue to be followed to enforce appropriate Covid-19 behavior.
The Center has allowed all activities outside the containment zones, except the following, which have been allowed with certain restrictions.
- International passenger air travel, as permitted by MHA.
- Movie theaters and theaters, with up to 50 percent capacity.
- Pools, only for athletes training.
- Showrooms, for business-to-business (B2B) purposes only.
- Social / religious / sports / entertainment / educational / cultural / religious gatherings, with up to a maximum of 50 percent of the capacity of the room, with a maximum limit of 200 people in closed spaces; and keep the size of the land / space in sight, in open spaces. However, state governments have been given the power to lower the ceiling to 100 people or less based on their assessment of the situation.
Local restrictions
The states and UT, depending on their assessment of the situation, may impose local restrictions, with a view to containing the spread of Covid-19, such as a night curfew. However, state / UT governments will not impose any local (state / district / subdivision / city level) blockades, outside of the containment zones, without prior consultation with the central government.
Social distancing in offices
States and UT must also enforce social distancing at offices. In cities, where the weekly case positivity rate is more than 10 percent, the states and UTs involved should consider implementing staggered office hours and other appropriate measures, with a view to reducing the number of employees who attend the office at the same time, thus ensuring distancing.
No restrictions on interstate and intrastate movement
No restrictions will be placed on the interstate and intrastate movement of people and goods, including those destined for cross-border trade under treaties with neighboring countries. No separate electronic permission / approval / permission will be required for such moves.
Protection of vulnerable people
Vulnerable people, i.e. people over 65 years of age, people with comorbidities, pregnant women and children under 10 years of age, are advised to stay at home, except to meet essential requirements and for reasons of Health.
.
