Delhi: The central government on Wednesday asked states to step up efforts to contain coronavirus cases especially in areas where a spike has been reported in recent weeks.
Issuing a set of guidelines that will be effective from December 1, the Home Ministry suggested measures including local restrictions such as night curfews, stricter enforcement of containment zones and encouraging “Covid-appropriate” behaviour.
The centre said states can impose additional fines and curbs on gatherings but there can’t be any lockdown outside containment zones without its permission.
The government call for stricter enforcement of existing rules like mask-wearing, social distancing and said it will issue formal rules for markets and weekly bazaars.
India’s coronavirus caseload passed 90 lakh last week with a surge in places like New Delhi, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh where hospitals came under increasing pressure.
The world’s second-worst-hit country, India has now also registered more than 1.34 lakh deaths from COVID-19, according to the latest official figures, which are widely seen as understating the true scale of infection.
