With certain state government not following the advisory issued by the government, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has written a letter to all chief secretaries asking them to ensure compliance with lockdown guidelines. It has been brought to the Home Ministry’s notice that there are violations in implementing the prescribed measures at various places.

The Home Secretary said, “I would like to emphasise that the MHA Guidelines should be strictly implemented, and all authorities in states/UTs should take necessary steps to ensure the same. Some of the specific points that merit special consideration is mentioned below.”

Proper delineation of containment zones and effective implementation of containment measures within these zones are key to preventing the spread of COVID-19. In this respect, the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) need to be followed, and containment zones properly demarcated.

States and Union Territories can now delineate various zones and decide on the activities to be prohibited, or allowed with restrictions, in accordance with the MHA guidelines. The need to ensure night curfew or prohibition of all non-essential activities, between 7 pm and 7 am is an important element of the MHA guidelines.