New Delhi: 2 weeks after the COVID curve started to decline across the nation, the centre asked states and UTs to review their restrictions according to the trend in their regions. The instructions came through a letter by Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan to Chief Secretaries and Chief Administrators of all states and union territories on Wednesday.
This update came after the MOHFW reported plateauing of COVID curve since January 21. The average daily cases during last week were 50,476, and 27,409 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours. The daily positivity rates dropped to 3.63 per cent on Wednesday.
States citing the surge fuelled by Omicron had imposed prescriptive restrictions in areas under their jurisdiction. Borders of a few regions were sealed while few tightened screening measures and entry norms at the airports, tolls and railway stations.
“Presently, as the case trajectory across the nation is showing a sustained downward trend, it will be useful if states/UTs review and amend/do away with the additional restrictions so imposed after considering the trend of new cases, active cases and positivity within the state and UT,” he said in the letter.
He pressed the need for effective monitoring and analysis of the COVID curve in their regions. They may also follow the broad five-fold strategy of Test Track-Treat-Vaccination and adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour, he added. So far India under the nationwide vaccination drive shielded more than 174 Crore beneficiaries. As of today, 31 lakh vaccine doses were administered until 7 pm.