The Samikhsya Bureau
NEW DELHI: Concerned over the rise in Covid-19 cases, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an order on Friday to extend the existing Guidelines for Surveillance, Containment and Caution to remain in force up to March 31 as a precautionary measure.
While there has been a substantial decline in the active and new Covid-19 cases, there is need to maintain surveillance, containment and caution so as to fully overcome the pandemic, the Ministry maintained.
States and Union Territories have also been advised to speed up the vaccination of the target population so as to break the chain of transmission and overcome the pandemic, officials informed.
Accordingly, Containment Zones continue to be demarcated carefully; prescribed containment measures strictly followed within these zones; Covid-appropriate behaviour promoted and strictly enforced; and the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) prescribed in respect of various permitted activities followed scrupulously, the Ministry order stressed.
Therefore, the focused approach on surveillance, containment and strict observance of the guidelines/ SOPs, as envisaged in the Guidelines issued on January 27 last need to be enforced strictly by States and Union Territories, the order stated.
