New COVID-19 Guidelines Issued By Center for States to be followed from December1.

Center issues new guidelines for states to tackle COVID- 19 pandemic.

On Wednesday the Central Government asked all states to form new and effective measures to contain the virus, primarily in the areas where there have been a peak in the number of new cases of the corona virus infection.

The Central government has issued a set of guidelines that will come into effect from December1. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) have suggested multiple measures like stricter enforcement of all the containment zones, contact tracing and encouraging corona appropriate behavior. The MHA today in an issued order with guidelines for surveillance, containment and caution will come into effect from December1,2020 and will continue up to December31,2020.The containment measures prescribed by the Ministry Of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) and MHA shall be strictly followed by all state governments.

According to the guidelines only essential proceedings shall be permitted in the containment zones, movement in these areas will be allowed only for medical emergencies and for essential goods and services. A home-to-home surveillance will be conducted by the surveillance teams and testing shall be carried out. In case of persons found to be positive, listing of contacts shall begin along with their tracking, identification, quarantine and follow up of contacts for 14 days. COVID-19 patients shall be ensured treatment with Quick isolation in hospitals/homes. All clinical requirements shall be administered. ILI/ SARI cases shall be carried out in health facilities in buffer zones. COVID-19 awareness appropriate behaviors shall be created in communities.

The guidelines also focused on enforcement of wearing a face mask, hand hygiene and social distancing and if people fail to follow these protocols then the states can take actions like imposing fines on defaulters. The Ministry will soon be issuing Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to observe social distancing, in crowded places like markets and weekly bazaars and also in public transportations.

International passengers are permitted to have an air travel after being permitted by the MHA. Movie theatres and halls to be permitted with only 50% capacity. Swimming pool only for the training of the sports persons. Exhibition halls to be used strictly for B2B purposes. All sorts of social, religious, sports, entertainment, educational, and cultural gatherings shall be allowed only with 50% of hall capacities and with a ceiling of 200 people in closed places.

The Ministry said no restrictions have been imposed on inter and intra state movement of persons and goods including cross land border trade with under treaties with the neighbouring countries