New Covid-19 Guidelines from the Centre

Although the official data and expert analysis received from all over the country have shown a clear slow-down of the curve of corona virus positivity and there is a considerable improvement in the number of active cases in earlier high spread states like Maharashtra, Tamilnadu and Kerala, yet the Uninon Home Ministry has shown concern about the possibility of the risk factors of the spread of corona virus. The ministry has issued a set of protocols for the state government and union territories

It issued a set of protocols and recommendations for states and union territories to check the spread of the disease. These guidelines will be effective from December 1^st.

• The Centre has allowed states and union territories to impose local restrictions, such as night curfew, based on their assessment of the situation. However, they cannot impose any local lockdown outside the containment zones without prior consultation with the Centre.

• The home ministry also said that state governments can consider implementing staggered office timings and other suitable measures in cities where the weekly case positivity rate is more than 10 percent so that the number of employees attending offices at the same time can be reduced.

• It said that local district, police and municipal authorities shall be responsible to ensure that the prescribed containment measures are strictly followed.

• The Centre has also given freedom to the state governments to take administrative action against people not following the basic Covid safety measures. These actions include imposition of appropriate fines on persons not wearing face masks or following social distancing in public and work spaces.

• The home ministry guidelines said that there shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of persons and goods, including those for cross land-border trade under treaties with neighbouring countries. No separate permission/approval/e-permit will be required for such movements.

• The latest set of rules emphasise on “surveillance, containment, and caution”. Hence, the home ministry order said that in containment zones, surveillance teams will conduct intensive house-to-house surveillance and quick isolation of Covid-19 patients shall be ensured in treatment facilities or home. • Covid-19 rules and containment measures prescribed by the health ministry strictly need to be followed in demarcated containment zones. There shall be strict perimeter control to ensure that there is no movement of people in or out of these zones, except for medical emergencies and for maintaining supply of essential goods and services, the home ministry guidelines said