The Centre, on Wednesday, 16 February, asked states and Union Territories (UTs) to review and amend the additional COVID-19 restrictions that were imposed after a sudden surge in infections.
"The COVID-19 pandemic in India is showing a sustained declining trend since 21 January. The average daily cases during last week were 50,476 and 27,409 new cases have been reported in the last 24 hours. The daily case positivity on 15 February, 2022 has declined to 3.63 percent," Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in a letter to states and UTs.
"With the changing epidemiology of COVID-19 pandemic globally and in India, existing guidelines aimed at minimising the transmission and circulation of the virus have been reviewed and updated."Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in a letter to states and UTs
Highlighting that the Union Health Ministry has revised guidelines for international arrivals, he asked states to amend the additional restrictions they had imposed too.
In view of the high COVID case trajectory, certain states had imposed additional restrictions at their borders and at airports. However, while effectively managing the public health challenge of COVID-19, it is equally important that movement of people and activities should not be hampered by additional restrictions.
"Presently, as the case trajectory across the nation are showing a sustained downward trend, it will be useful if states/UTs review and amend/do away with the additional restrictions so imposed after considering the trend of new cases, active cases and positivity."Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in a letter to states and UTs
Bhushan has said, in the letter, that states should continue to monitor the trajectory of cases and spread of infection on a daily basis.
He asked states to follow the broad five-fold strategy of — Test-Track-Treat-Vaccination-Adherence to Covid Appropriate Behaviour.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)