The Ministry of Health issued new rules, enforcing COVID-19 restrictions.
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Published By:
Peeyush Ghalot
Published On:
28-03-2022
The Union Health Ministry wrote to stakeholders, explaining how choices should be taken to identify areas where constraints need to be imposed/continued, as the government prepares to ease COVID-19 restrictions. In a letter, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that a test positivity rate of 10% or more in the previous week or bed occupancy of more than 40% on either oxygen supported or ICU-beds were grounds for imposing restrictions, and that evidence-based decisions on restrictions and relaxation should be continued. Since the last two months, there has been a sustained and significant decline in the number of COVID-19 cases across the country, and the Ministry has been advising and guiding the States and Union Territories on the recommended strategies for tackling the pandemic through testing, surveillance, containment, and restrictions, keeping the districts as a unit in mind," Mr. Bhushan said. A review of new case data, based on a sustained and critical degree of testing, should be conducted. It was also necessary to take a risk-based strategy to the resumption of economic and social activity without jeopardizing the accomplishments won so far in the fight against the epidemic. The Ministry stated that offline classes might be resumed in academic institutions without any restrictions while speaking about relaxations in various activities. "However, the academic institution may use a hybrid model of education delivery that includes both online and offline components," the letter noted. All sporting activities, religious and related functions, public transportation, inter-State travel, office operations, and so on could be carried out without limitation. The actions should be carried out after a thorough examination of the likelihood of transmission.