The central government on Wednesday asked all states and union territories to review and amend or eliminate additional COVID-19 restrictions as the pandemic in the country shows continued decline.
In a letter to all states/UTs, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said, “The COVID-19 pandemic in India is showing a continuous declining trend since January 21, 2022. The average daily cases during the last week were 50,476 and 27,409 new cases “Reported in the last 24 hours. The daily case positivity has come down to 3.63 per cent as on February 15.”
Bhushan said the government is making changes to the existing guidelines and aims to minimize it with the “changing epidemiology of the COVID-19 virus globally”.
He further said that the Union Health Ministry has revised the international travel guidelines with effect from February 10, 2022.
“At present, as the case trajectory across the country is showing a steady declining trend, it would be useful if the States/UTs review the additional restrictions imposed after considering the trend of new cases, active cases and positivity. amend/do away with. States/UTs,” read the letter.
The Union Health Secretary further asked the state governments to relax restrictions at their borders and airports so that the movement of people and the economy is not hampered by the additional restrictions imposed at state level entry points.
He further asked all the states and union territories to continue monitoring the pace of cases on a daily basis.
Also, the Health Secretary asked the states to follow a five-pronged strategy of testing, tracking, treating, immunizing and adhering to COVID-appropriate behaviour.
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