Panaji: In view of the rising coronavirus cases in few of the States and Union Territories, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday issued new guidelines to contain the virus. States/UTs are mandated to strictly enforce containment measures.
The new MHA guidelines have allowed states to impose night curfews, put “local restrictions”, keep gatherings at social events to less than 100, impose fine on people for not wearing masks and even issue orders for local lockdowns with the Centre’s approval.“Based on the assessment of the situation, State/ UT Governments may reduce the ceiling to 100 persons or less, in closed spaces,” the notice stated.
The MHA in the new guideline has allowed only essential activities in containment zones. There will be strict perimeter control to ensure that there is no movement of people in and out of these zones, except during medical emergencies and for carrying out supplies for essential goods and services.
Highlighting the “Surveillance, Containment and Caution” for December, the MHA stated that the main focus of the directive is to consolidate the substantial gains that have been achieved against the spread of COVID-19 that are visible in the steady decline in the number of active cases in the country.
