MHA Releases New Covid-19 Guidelines! Check what is allowed, what is not

The new Coronavirus Covid-19 guidelines are available! The Union Ministry of the Interior (MHA) has published a new set of guidelines for surveillance, containment and precaution. Governments and administrations in the states or UTs have been ordered to strictly enforce containment measures, standard operating procedures (SOPs) on various activities, and appropriate COVID-19 behavior and exercise caution and regulate crowds. The new Covid-19 guidelines allowed only essential activities in containment zones. The local district, police and municipal authorities must ensure that the prescribed containment measures are strictly adhered to, the Union Interior Ministry said in a statement.

The new guidelines came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with senior ministers and expressed concern over recent negligence by ordinary people regarding following appropriate Covid-19 behavior and rules. The guidelines will go into effect on December 1, 2020 and will remain in effect until December 31, 2020.

Emergency shutdown

State and UT governments, based 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 should not impose any local (state / district / subdivision / city level) blockades, outside of the containment zones, without prior consultation with the central government, the MHA guidelines stated.

Office restrictions

States and UT must also enforce social distancing at offices. In cities, where the weekly Case Positivity Rate is more than 10 percent, involved states and UTs 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, according to MHA guidelines.

Activities allowed outside the containment zones

Movie theaters and theaters will remain open with up to 50 percent capacity. The pools will remain open only for the training of athletes. Showrooms, for commercial purposes only. Social, religious, sports, entertainment, educational, cultural, religious gatherings are allowed with up to a maximum of 50 percent of the capacity of the room, with a ceiling of 200 people in closed spaces; and keep the size of the land or space in sight, in open spaces. However, based on their assessment of the situation, state and UT governments may reduce the ceiling to 100 people or less, indoors, in accordance with MHA guidelines.

There are no travel restrictions on interstate and intrastate movement

There should be no restrictions on the interstate and intra-state 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, MHA guidelines stated.

Covid-19 surveillance

A strict perimeter control must be implemented 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, Covid-19 tests must be carried out according to the prescribed protocol. The list of contacts must be made with respect to all the people found positive for Covid-19, together with their tracing, identification, quarantine and follow-up of contacts for 14 days. About 80 percent of contacts will be traced within 72 hours, the MHA said in a statement. There should be rapid isolation of COVID-19 patients in treatment facilities / at home, subject to adherence to home isolation guidelines.) Clinical interventions should be administered as prescribed.

Appropriate COVID-19 behavior

State or UT governments must take all necessary measures to promote appropriate COVID-19 behavior and ensure strict enforcement of the use of face masks, hand hygiene, and social distancing. State and UT governments may consider administrative action, including imposing appropriate fines, on people who do not wear face masks in public and work places.