MHA Extends Guidelines For COVID-19 Surveillance; Asks States To Enforce SOP

Bhubaneswar: Amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the country, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday issued an order to extend the existing guidelines for surveillance, containment by respective States. Such guidelines will remain in force till March 31, 2021.

Though 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, MHA said in a notification.

States/ 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.

Accordingly, the containment zones will continue to be demarcated carefully by respective States/ district administrations.

MHA extends Guidelines for Surveillance, Containment and Caution States/ UnionTerritories to strictly enforce SOPs on various activities and to exercise caution and strict surveillance

Press release-https://t.co/l7ATb3mZ38

— Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) February 26, 2021

The Centre has asked States, UTs to ensure that the prescribed containment measures are strictly followed within these zones. Similarly, COVID-appropriate behaviour will be promoted and strictly enforced.

MHA has asked States to strictly follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) prescribed in respect of various permitted activities.

“Therefore, the focussed approach on surveillance, containment and strict observance of the guidelines/ SOPs, as envisaged in the Guidelines issued on 27.01.2021 need to be enforced strictly by States and Union Territories,” the notification added.