The MHA also directed states to strictly enforce containment measures, standard operating procedures in various activities, and appropriate COVID behavior and to exercise caution and regulate crowds.
“The primary 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 ministry said in a statement.
The district, police and municipal authorities will be responsible for ensuring that the prescribed Containment measures are strictly followed. States and TUs, based on their assessment of the situation, may impose local restrictions, with a view to containing the spread of COVID- 19.
Here is a summary of the new guidelines issued by the Center:
Surveillance and containment
The States / UTs must ensure the careful demarcation of the containment zones by the district authorities, at the micro level, taking into consideration 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, including:
-Only essential activities will be allowed in the Containment Zones.
-There will be a 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.
-There will be intensive house-to-house surveillance by surveillance teams trained for this purpose.
-Tests will be performed according to the prescribed protocol.
-A contact list will be made of all people who test positive, together with their tracking, identification, quarantine and follow-up of the contacts for 14 days (80 percent of the contacts will be traced in 72 hours).
-Rapid isolation of COVID-19 patients in treatment facilities / home will be guaranteed (subject to adherence to home isolation guidelines).
-Clinical interventions will be administered, as prescribed.
-The surveillance of ILI / SARI cases will be carried out in health establishments or mobile extension units or through fever clinics in buffer zones.
-Awareness will be raised in communities about appropriate COVID-19 behavior.
-The municipal, police and local district authorities will be responsible for ensuring that the prescribed containment measures are strictly followed and the state / UT governments will guarantee the accountability of the interested agents in this regard.
Appropriate behavior for COVID
The ministry also ordered the states and the UT government 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 enforcement of social distancing in crowded places, especially in markets, weekly bazaars and public transportation, MoHFW will issue an SOP, the statement read.
The National Guidelines for the Management of COVID-19 will continue to be followed throughout the country, in order to enforce appropriate COVID-19 behavior.
Strict compliance with prescribed SOPs
All activities outside the Containment Zones have been allowed, 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 sportsmen training.
-Exhibition rooms, only for business to business (B2B) purposes.
-Social / religious / sports / entertainment / educational / cultural / religious gatherings, 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 / space in sight, in open spaces.
“However, based on their assessment of the situation, state / UT governments may lower the maximum limit to 100 people or less, indoors,” MHA further said,
Local restrictions
States and UT, 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 governments will not impose any local confinement (State / District / subdivision / city level), outside the containment zones, without prior consultation with the Central Government, the ministry clarified in its order.
States and UT must also enforce social distancing at offices. In cities, where the weekly Case Positivity Rate is higher than 10%, affected states should consider the implementation of staggered office hours and other appropriate measures, with a view to reducing the number of employees who attend the office at the same time. time, thus ensuring social 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.
Use of Aarogya Setu
The use of the Aarogya Setu mobile application will continue to be encouraged.
Meanwhile, India reported 44,376 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the number of cases so far to 92,22,217, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday.
The total of cases in the country now stands at 92,22,217, including 86,42,771 recoveries and 4,44,746 active cases. With 480 new deaths, the accumulated balance reached 1,34,218.
The country reported 481 deaths from the disease in the last 24 hours.
Today is the 18th day that India reported fewer than 50,000 cases in one day. The last time new daily cases crossed the 50,000 threshold was on November 7.
With 6,224 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, Delhi reported the highest daily count among states /
.
