Covid-19: Centre asks States to go for stringent containment measures

The areas requiring intensive action and local containment connotes to specific and well defined geographical units such as cities/town/part of the towns/district headquarters/semi-urban localities

Hyderabad: The Centre has issued fresh guidelines on Covid-19 management, directing States to impose stringent containment measures including shutting down public areas and imposing night curfew in cities, towns or parts of towns and district headquarters where the positivity rate of Covid infections was 10 percent or bed occupancy in hospitals was 60 percent or more.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in the guidelines issued on Sunday that States must focus on stringent containment measures as a major approach to flatten the current curve of the epidemic.

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“The areas requiring intensive action and local containment connotes to specific and well defined geographical units such as cities/town/part of the towns/district headquarters/semi-urban localities/municipal wards/panchayat areas,” it said.

“The decision on where and when to go for a large Containment Zone (CZ) has to be evidence based and done at the State/UT level after proper analysis of the situation. However, in order to facilitate transparent and epidemiologically sound decision making for States while selecting districts or areas for stringent containment measures, the positivity rate in that area should be 10 percent or more or bed occupancy in hospitals is 60 percent or more.

Here are the guidelines for containment measures from MoHFW:

• Night curfew to restrict movement of individuals
• The spread of infection has to be controlled by restricting intermingling amongst people, the only known host for the COVID-19 virus
• Close down all shopping complexes, cinema halls, restaurants and bars, sports complexes, gym, spas, swimming pool and religious places.
• Prohibit Social/ political / sports / entertainment / academic / cultural / religious / festival related and other gathering and congregations.
• Allow marriages with only 50 persons attendance and funerals with 20 persons.
• Essential services and activities such as healthcare services, police, fire, banks, electricity, water and sanitation shall continue
• Regulated movement of public transport including all incidental services and activities needed for a smooth functioning of these activities shall continue. Such services shall continue in both public and private sector.
• Public transport (railways, metros, buses, cabs) to operate at a maximum capacity of 50 percent.
• There shall be no restrictions on inter-state and intra-state movement including transportation of essential goods.
• All offices, both government and private, to function with a maximum staff strength of 50 percent.
• All industrial and scientific establishments, both government and private may be allowed subject to the workforce following physical distancing norms. They shall also be tested through RAT (in case of individuals identified with flu like symptoms) from time to time.
• The restrictions as above shall continue for a period of 14 days.
• Before declaring a containment area, make a public announcement, outlining the rationale for the same and the kind of restrictions that will be in place
• A leaflet in local language may be distributed highlighting the gravity of the situation and restrictions to be followed
• Community volunteers, civil society organizations, ex- servicemen, and members of the local NYK/NSS centres etc. should be involved for sustainable management of containment activities, translating the aforementioned leaflets and for encouraging people in the community for sustained behaviour change as well as vaccination.Also read:

  63 containment zones in Hyderabad

  Eatala urges citizens to cooperate with Covid-19 containment strategies

  Covid spike: Union Health Secretary chairs high-level meet with 12 States

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