Home Ministry issues Guidelines for COVID-19 Surveillance, Containment and Caution from December 1 to 31

The Home Ministry has issued an Order today with Guidelines for Surveillance, Containment and Caution, which will be effective from December 1, 2020, and remain in force up to December 31, 2020.

The main focus of the Guidelines is to consolidate the substantial gains that have been achieved against the spread of COVID-19 which is visible in the steady decline in the number of active cases in the country. Further, keeping in view the recent spike in new cases in a few states and UTs, it has been emphasised that there is a need to maintain caution and strictly follow the prescribed containment strategy.

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, to contain the spread of COVID-19.

According to the guidelines, States and UTs must ensure careful demarcation of Containment Zones by the district authorities, at the micro-level, taking into consideration the guidelines prescribed by the Health Ministry in this regard. The list of Containment Zones will be notified on the websites by the respective District Collectors and by the States and UTs. This list will also be shared with the Health Ministry.

There shall be intensive house-to-house surveillance by surveillance teams formed for the purpose. Testing shall be carried out as per the prescribed protocol. Listing of contacts shall be carried out in respect of all persons found positive, along with their tracking, identification, quarantine and follow up of contacts for 14 days.

Quick isolation of COVID-19 patients shall be ensured in treatment facilities and home subject to fulfilling the home isolation guidelines. Clinical interventions, as prescribed, shall be administered.

Awareness shall be created in communities on COVID-19 appropriate behaviour. States and UTs, based on their assessment of the situation, may impose local restrictions, to contain the spread of COVID-19 such as night curfew. However, state and UT governments shall not impose any local lockdown outside the containment zones, without prior consultation with the Central Government. There shall be no restriction on inter-State and intra-State movement of persons and goods including those for cross land-border trade under Treaties with neighbouring countries. No separate permission, approval or e-permit will be required for such movements.