COVID-19: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued guidelines to states for imposing restrictions such as local lockdowns and marking containment zones to tackle the surge in COVID-19 infections.
In a letter issued on April 26th to all the states, Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla urged them to undertake an intensive, local, and focussed containment approach in districts and cities based on their assessment of the state’s situation.
The restrictions are to be imposed for at least 14 days if the positivity rate in an area is more than 10 percent for over a week, and 60 percent of hospital beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients.
Once containment zones are identified, states and union territories will have to put in place the following restrictions listed by the MHA:
- Impose night curfew: local administrations to decide on the duration of the night curfew; essential services to be exempted.
- Ban social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious, festival-related, and other gatherings.
- Limit weddings up to 50 participants, and funerals to 20 people.
- Close shopping complexes, movie theatres, restaurants and bars, sports complexes, gym, spas, swimming pool, and religious places.
- Allow only essential services to continue in both the public and private sectors.
- Ensure public transport like railways, metros, buses, and cabs operate at up to half their capacity.
- No restrictions on inter-state and intra-state movement including the transport of essential goods.
- Offices can function with up to half their staff.
- Industrial and scientific establishments can be allowed subject to distancing rules. They will be tested through Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) from time to time.
- Appoint senior district officials in charge for COVID-19-dedicated hospitals.
- Create a mechanism for seamless shifting of patients.
Earlier on April 18th, MHA had written to states prohibiting supply of oxygen for industrial purposes, except for the exempted nine industries, including the pharmaceutical, petroleum, nuclear energy, and the steel sectors.
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