Centre allows states to impose COVID restrictions amid virus surge

States are allowed to impose local restrictions based on assessment of situation with a view to contain spread of COVID-19, said Home Ministry on Tuesday.

The fresh guidelines and SOPs, announced by home ministry on Tuesday will come into effect from April 1 and will be enforced till April 30.

Also Read: One year of COVID-19 lockdown: How India dealt with pandemic

Here are the new guidelines and SOPs announced by the home ministry.

Under the new guidelines, the home ministry directed all states and union territories to strictly enforce test-track-treat protocol in response to surging coronavirus cases in the country.

On diagnosis and testing conducted for COVID-19, the home ministry asked states where proportion of RT-PCR tests is less to rapidly increase it in order to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Those who tests positive should be put in mandatory quarantine/isolation at the earliest provided timeframe.

The Centre also asked all the states to conduct mass vaccination drives Centre and pace up COVID-19 vaccination to cover all priority groups.

The responsibility for enforcing the protocols is given to Local district, police and municipal authorities and State/ UT Governments shall ensure the accountability of the officers concerned in this regard.

Apart from enhanced COVID-19 testing and containment measure, the ministry also emphasised on the need to ensure the resumption of activities is successful