The National Disaster Management
Authority and Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday revoked the provisions of
the Disaster Management Act for COVID containment measures. However, it urged
everyone to wear a face mask and maintain social distance in public places as
earlier.

Also Read: India registers 1,778 new COVID cases, 62 deaths in last 24 hours

When the COVID-19 pandemic made
inroads into India, the Indian government on March 24, 2020, had issued the
first guidelines under the Disaster Management Act, (DM Act) 2005 to contain
the spread of the virus in the country. Over the last two years, these norms
have been modified on various occasions as the pandemic reached its peak and
then slowly started dying down.

Here is everything you need to
know about NDMA and the home ministry’s decision:

*NDMA after taking stock of the present situation to deal with the pandemic has taken a decision that there may not be any further need to invoke the provisions of the Disaster Management Act for COVID containment measures.

Also Read: President Joe Biden signs law to support mental health of medical workers

*People of India have a higher
level of awareness about the nature of the virus and they are following
appropriate COVID behaviour, said Bhalla.

*Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, in a communication to all states, said that over the last two years India developed significant capacities in various aspects of management of the pandemic, such as diagnostics, surveillance, contact tracing, treatment, vaccination, hospital infrastructure.

Also Read: China reports first COVID deaths since January 2021; 12% rise in global daily cases

*The home ministry, after the
expiry of the existing MHA Order No. 40-3/2020-DM-1 (A) dated 25 February 2022,
would not issue any further order.

*The Ministry of Health
& Family Welfare (MDHFW), however, will send advisories on COVID containment
measures, including the use of face masks and hand hygiene will continue to
guide the overall national response to the pandemic.

Also Read: 3 reasons why COVID cases are rising again

*The government also said that
states and union territories have also developed their own capacities and
systems and implemented their detailed State/UT specific plans for managing the
pandemic. Over the last seven weeks or so there has been a steep decline in the
number of cases. The total caseload in the country stands at 23.913 only and
the daily positivity rate has declined to 0.28%.