MHA extends Covid guidelines till 30 Sept; State govts to take pro-active measures ahead of the upcoming festivals

Aug. 28: The Centre on Saturday extended all existing Covid-19-related protocol in India up to September 30. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has said that COVID-19 containment measures will remain in force up to September 30. Noting that the overall pandemic situation in India now appears to be “largely stable, except for the localised spread of the virus in few states”, the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) directed the concerned state governments to take pro-active containment measures ahead of the upcoming festival season in the country.

An official order in this regard was issued by home secretary Ajay Bhalla on 28 August, 2021 and sent to the chief secretaries of all states. In it, the government said that the earlier order regarding the implementation of Covid-19 protocols, which was issued on June 29, will now be enforced up to September 30. Pointing out the upcoming festive season across several states in India, the government further advised the state governments and UT administrations to ensure that there are no large gatherings. If required, necessary local restrictions should be imposed in potentially crowded places, where people must follow Covid-19 appropriate behaviour.

India reported 46,759 new cases on Saturday, the most in nearly two months, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Active cases in the country stand at 3,59,775, while the COVID-19 death toll has risen to 4,37,370.