Wearing a mask and other Covid-appropriate behaviour will continue.
Digital Desk: As the number of Covid-19 cases in the nation continues to fall, the Centre has asked states and union territories to discontinue all Covid containment measures as of March 31. The decision to remove all Covid-related restrictions came two years after the Disaster Management (DM) Act of 2005 was introduced in response to the pandemic outbreak.
However, wearing a mask and other Covid-appropriate behaviour will continue.
Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla stated in a letter to all state chief secretaries that the Union Home Ministry (MHA) had issued orders and guidelines under the DM Act 2005 to contain Covid-19 in the country on the directions of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
"After considering the overall improvement in the situation and the government's preparedness to deal with the pandemic, the NDMA has decided that there may be no further need to activate the regulations of the DM Act for Covid containment measures," he said.
He further stated that after the current order expires on February 25, 2022, no further charge may be issued by MHA. The existing order was set to expire on March 31.
On March 24, 2020, the ministry issued orders and guidelines under the DM Act 2005 for the first time for Covid containment in the country. It has since issued modified orders on a regular basis.
However, the order states that the Union Ministry of Health's "recommendations on Covid preventive actions, including the use of face masks and hygiene practices, will continue to guide the overall national response to the pandemic."
Moreover, the states were also warned to be "vigilant" and to take "prompt and proactive action" if a sharp rise of covid cases is detected.
"I would advise all states/UTs to consider appropriately discontinuing the issuance of orders and guidelines under the DM Act, 2005 for Covid containment measures," the letter stated.
Significant capacities for various aspects of pandemic management, such as diagnostic, surveillance, contact tracing, treatment and vaccination, and hospital infrastructure, have been developed over the last 24 months, and the public is much more conscious of relevant Covid behaviour.
According to the official report, there has been a significant decrease in cases over the last seven weeks.
According to the official report, the total caseload in the country is 23,913 (as of March 22), and the daily positivity rate has dropped to 0.28 per cent.
Leave A Comment