The Union Ministry of the Interior (MHA) on Monday extended its existing guidelines for surveillance, containment and precaution against coronavirus disease until January 2021, even as it noted that there has been a “continuous decline” in the number of active cases of Covid-19 in the country.
The extension of the Center also comes as a new variant of the coronavirus in the UK has been blamed for rising infection rates in London and south-east England. British authorities have said that the new version is more easily transmitted than the original, but emphasized that there is no evidence that it makes people sicker. Hundreds of people have returned from the UK to India and several have tested positive for the coronavirus disease, prompting the government to tighten the rules.
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“While there has been a continuous decline in active and new cases of COVID-19, vigilance, containment and caution are necessary, taking into account the increase in cases globally and the emergence of a new variant of the virus. in the U.S. Kingdom (UK), ”MHA said in a statement.
The Interior Ministry said that containment zones will need to be carefully demarcated and prescribed containment measures must be strictly followed within these areas. He also said that appropriate Covid behavior should be strictly promoted and enforced and prescribed standard operating procedures (SOPs) should be scrupulously followed regarding the various permitted activities.
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“Therefore, the focus on surveillance, containment and strict compliance with the guidelines / SOP issued by the MHA and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), as provided in the Guidelines issued on 11/25/2020 ; they must be strictly enforced by the States and the UTs ”, he added. The Union Ministry of the Interior has also asked people to be cautious when celebrating the New Year.
India recorded 20,021 new Covid-19 cases and 279 related deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the national count to 10,207,871, according to the Union Health Ministry on Monday morning. India recorded the smallest single-day increase in Covid-19 cases in nearly six months at 18,732 on Sunday. The number of active cases also fell to 278,000, the lowest level after 170 days, the Health Ministry said.
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