The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) today issued an order to extend the existing guidelines for Surveillance, Containment and Caution to remain in force up to March 31. “While there has been a substantial decline in the active and new COVID-19 cases, there is a need to maintain surveillance and containment. States/UTs advised to speed up the vaccination of the target population,” the MHA said in a statement. All states and Union Territories have also been advised to speed up the vaccination of the target population in order to break the chain of virus transmission.
"Containment zones continue to be demarcated carefully. Prescribed containment measures are strictly being followed within these zones and Covid-appropriate behaviour is being promoted and strictly enforced," the release said. "The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) prescribed in respect of various permitted activities followed scrupulously. Therefore, the focused approach on surveillance, containment and strict observance of the SOPs, as envisaged in the guidelines issued on January 27, 2021, need to be enforced strictly by states and Union Territories," it added. On Friday, India recorded its 16,577 new cases, with the number staying over 16,000 for the second day in a row. The total number of Covid cases in India is now at 1,10,63,491. India recorded 1,07,50,680 recoveries according to the health ministry. “Maharashtra and Kerala continue to be some of the worst affected states due to Covid. Both the states together add almost 65% to 70% caseload of the country. Both these states have become hotspots.