Centre advises States, UTs on intense action and local Containment Measures in Covid-19 affected districts

Government has advised States and Union Territories on intense action and local Containment Measures in COVID-19 affected districts for effective management of COVID surge.

Union Health Ministry said local containment may be undertaken for a period of 14 days for breaking the chain of transmission. The Ministry also expressed the urgent need for States to consider strict COVID management and control measures in surge areas to bring the situation under control to contain the spread of infection in areas reporting higher cases and surge.

Government has asked States that prompt and targeted action needs to be focused on specific districts, cities and areas in order to flatten the current curve of the epidemic. It said, well defined Geographies with more than 10 per cent positivity or 60 per cent Bed occupancy are liable for intensive actions. The Ministry said, districts fulfilling any one of



these two criteria are to be considered for taking intensive action and local containment measures.

It said, Local containment primarily focused on restricting intermingling of people is to be undertaken for a period of 14 days for breaking the chain of transmission duly following epidemiological principles. The local containment will essentially focus on three strategic areas of intervention, which include Containment, Clinical Management and Community Engagement.

The Ministry said, containment zones with clear boundaries and stringent controls will be required to ensure that the infection does not spread outside. The spread of the infection has to be controlled through restricting the intermingling amongst people. Social, political, sports, entertainment,  academic, religious and festival related gathering and congregations shall be prohibited.