COVID-19 Curbs: Home Ministry Asks States, UTs To Allow Relaxation In Restrictions

The Union Home Secretary made this suggestion while issuing Covid-19 guidelines for March.

Representative Photo: PTI

New Delhi: In view of the significant decline in the number of coronavirus cases, the Union Home Ministry on Friday asked the states and union territories to consider relaxing Covid-19 curbs for social, sports, entertainment, academic and religious events besides night curfew hours.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla suggested the implementation of a risk assessment-based approach on the opening of economic activities as suggested recently by the Union Health Ministry, PTI reported.

The Union Home Secretary made this suggestion while issuing Covid-19 guidelines for March.

Accordingly, the relaxation in various activities such as social, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious, festival related gatherings, night curfew, operations of public transport, shopping complexes, cinema halls, gyms, spas, restaurants and bars, opening of schools, colleges, offices and other commercial activities may be considered after a careful analysis of the local situation, as per the communication.

The Union Home Secretary has in the guidelines sent to the chief secretaries of all states and UTs also emphasised that wearing of masks, maintaining social distancing, hand hygiene and ventilation in closed spaces as mandated in the National Directives for Covid Management should continue to be enforced.

Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry in a release informed that 176.86 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far under the Nationwide Vaccination Drive.

The Health Ministry said India’s active caseload currently stands at 1,34,235.

“Active cases stand at 0.31%. Recovery Rate currently at 98.49%,” the ministry added.

The Health Ministry said 26,988 people recovered in the last 24 hours, increasing the total recoveries to 4,22,46,884.

The Health Ministry further said 13,166 new Covid-19 cases were recorded in the last 24 hours.

The daily positivity rate stands at 1.28%, while the weekly positivity rate is 1.48%.