The Centre on Saturday extended all existing coronavirus disease (Covid-19)-related protocol in India up to September 30.
An official order in this regard was issued by home secretary Ajay Bhalla and sent to the chief secretaries of all states.
In the order the government said that the earlier order regarding the implementation of Covid-19 protocols, which was issued on June 29, will be in force up to September 30.
“The state governments/UT administrations concerned, having high positivity in their districts, should take pro-active containment measures so as to effectively arrest the spike in cases and to contain the spread of transmission,” the MHA letter read.
“It is important to identify the warning signs of potential surges early on and to take appropriate measures to curb the spread. This would require a localised approach, as has been mentioned in the Union ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW) advisories dated 25.04.2021 and 28.06.2021.”
The government advised the state governments and UT administrations to ensure that there are no large gatherings citing the upcoming festive season across several states in India. If required, necessary local restrictions should be imposed in potentially crowded places, where people must follow Covid-19 appropriate behaviour.
“We need to continue focus on the five-fold strategy, that is, Test-Track-Treat-Vaccination and adherence to Covid appropriate behaviour for effective management of Covid-19,” the letter read.
The Centre also noted regarding the enforcement of Covid-19 appropriate behaviour, suggests that there is a downward trend in the enforcement of face masks in public, the maintaining of social distancing norms. “Further, it must be ensured that areas having no virus or low virus transmission are adequately protected by progressively ramping up testing and other measures like the ILI/SARI surveillance, market surveillance, etc,” the home secretary said.
