All existing Covid restrictions imposed by Centre to be removed on 31 March: MHA

March 23: The Home Ministry in the backdrop of the continuous dip in coronavirus cases has decided to end all COVID-19 containment measures from 31 March, two years after their implementation following the outbreak of the pandemic. However, wearing of face mask and maintaining social distancing norms will continue as earlier.

“There will be no further need to invoke the Disaster Management Act for Covid containment measures,” an MHA official said. The Centre’s measures for Covid safety under the Disaster Management Act will expire on March 31.

The Central government had on March 24, 2020 issued for the first time orders and guidelines under the Disaster Management Act, (DM Act) 2005 for the containment of COVID-19 in the country and these have been modified on various occasions.

 India is much better placed to deal with the disease. India’s vaccination campaign has been going strong, with over 1,81,89,15,234 people vaccinated till Wednesday, March 23. The total caseload in the country stands at 23,913 only (on March 22) and the daily positivity rate has declined to 0.28 percent.