Saturday, 26 March 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
The State government has withdrawn restrictions put in place due to Covid-19. The chief secretary Sukhbir Singh Sandhu issued this direction following directions received from the Home ministry, while adding that guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) will remain applicable and that Covid appropriate behaviour will be followed in all crowded places.
The Home secretary Ajay Bhalla had written to chief secretaries of all states on March 22. He had stated, “After taking into consideration the overall improvement in the situation and preparedness of the government to deal with the pandemic, NDMA has taken a decision that there may not be any further need to invoke the provisions of the DM Act for Covid containment measures. Accordingly, after the expiry of the existing MHA order number 40-3/2020-DM-I (A) dated February 25, 2022, no further order may be issued by MHA. However, MoHFW advisories on Covid containment measures, including on the use of face mask and hand hygiene, will continue to guide the overall national response to the pandemic. I would, therefore, advise all the States/UTs to consider appropriately discontinuing issue of orders and guidelines under the DM Act, 2005 for Covid containment measures. The States/UT’s may continue to follow the SoPs/advisories that have been or are being issued by the MoHFW from time to time for Covid containment measures, vaccination and other related aspects, including observing Covid appropriate behaviour.”
Further, a letter dated March 23 by MoHFW secretary Rajesh Bhushan states, “The States/UTs are advised to continue implementation and monitoring of necessary measures for prompt and effective management of Covid-19 and to ensure effective compliance of various advisories issued by this ministry. In this context, this ministry’s guidance dated February 18 2022 regarding recommended strategies for testing, surveillance and containment based restrictions, keeping the District as a unit for decision making, are still valid. There should be continued focus on the five-fold strategy, i.e. Test-TrackTreat-Vaccination and adherence to Covid appropriate behaviour. The State enforcement machinery should effectively enforce the norms of Covid appropriate behaviour, i.e. wearing of face masks and maintaining safe physical distancing in all public areas/gatherings.”
