MHA issues stricter Covid guidelines for December

New Delhi, Nov 25 (Bureau) Noting that the main focus now is to consolidate the substantial gains that have been achieved in containment of COVID-19 in the country, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday issued guidelines for stricter surveillance, containment and caution, which will be effective between December 1 and 31 this year. Keeping in view the recent spike in new cases in a few States and Union Territories (UTs), in a fresh guidelines, the MHA said “there is need to maintain caution and to strictly follow the prescribed containment strategy”, which is focused on “surveillance, containment and strict observance of the guidelines and SOPs” issued by the Home Ministry and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW).

“Local district, police and municipal authorities shall be responsible to ensure that the prescribed containment measures are strictly followed. States and UTs, based on their assessment of the situation, may impose local restrictions, with a view to contain the spread of COVID-19,” the MHA guidelines said. However, there shall be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of people and goods, it said, adding that for cross land-border trade under treaties with neighbouring countries, no restrictions can be imposed. No separate permission/approval/e-permit will be required for such movements, it added.