MHA extends COVID-19 surveillance till January 31

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an order on Monday extending the COVID-19 “guidelines for surveillance” till January 31.

In a letter, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla requested all States to instruct the involved authorities to help the Union Health Ministry in “identification, preparation of database, vaccine delivery, storage, security, shipment and vaccination of beneficiaries”.

The letter stated the Government of India has began preparations for administration and roll out of vaccine for COVID-19 underneath which healthcare employees, frontline employees, individuals above 50 years of age and people under 50 years with comorbidities have been prioritised.

“Strict vigil is also needed to be maintained to prevent any fresh surge cases in wake of up-coming New Year celebrations and ongoing winter season, which are favourable for the spread of the virus,” the letter stated, including that State governments may impose native restrictions akin to evening curfews.

The letter additionally requested States to comply with the December 18 order by Supreme Court directing strict compliance of COVID-19 pointers and regulation of gatherings amongst different issues.

The earlier pointers underneath the Disaster Management Act, 2005, that have been issued on November 25 have been relevant till December 31.

“While there has been a continuous decline in the active and new COVID-19 cases, there is need to maintain surveillance, containment and caution, keeping in view the surge in cases globally, and emergence of a new variant of the virus in the United Kingdom (UK),” an order issued by MHA stated. The order will apply to all States and Union Territories.

“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. Therefore, the focused approach on surveillance, containment and strict observance of the guidelines/ SOPs issued by MHA and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MOHFW), as envisaged in the Guidelines issued on 25.11.2020; need to be enforced strictly by States and UT,” the order stated.

The November 25 guidelines specified “surveillance, containment and caution” in view of the surge in COVID-19 instances as a result of pageant season and onset of winter.

Earlier the MHA had pressured that States ought to guarantee 80% contacts of all individuals discovered COVID-19 constructive needs to be traced in 72 hours and their “tracking, identification, quarantine and follow up” for the following 14 days needs to be finished strictly.

More than 1 crore COVID-19 instances and 1.4 lakh deaths have been reported within the nation up to now.