According to an order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday, the Government of India has revoked provisions of the Disaster Management Act for COVID containment measures after two years. According to the order copy signed by Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, after considering the overall improvement in the situation and the Government’s preparedness to deal with the pandemic, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has decided that there may be no further need to invoke the provisions of the DM Act for COVID containment measures.
As a result, after the current Ministry of Home Affairs orders expire on February 25, 2022, no further orders may be issued by the MHA. However, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) has issued warnings.
“I would like to mention that in view of the nature of the disease, we still need to remain watchful of the situation. Wherever any surge in the number of cases is observed, the States/UTs may consider taking prompt and proactive action at the local level, as advised by MOHFW from time to time,” the Home Secretary said in the order. He also advised States and UTs to discontinue the issue of orders and guidelines under the DM Act.
“I would, therefore, advise all the States/UTs to consider appropriately discontinuing issue of orders and guidelines under the DM Act, 2005 for COVID containment measures. The States/UTs may continue to follow the SoPs/advisories that have been or are being issued by the MoHFW from time to time for COVID containment measures, vaccination and other related aspects, including observing COVID Appropriate Behaviour,” he said in the order.
Some media reports are suggesting relaxation in mask wearing and hand hygiene #COVID19 protocols.
These are untrue.
Use of face mask and hand hygiene will continue to guide Covid management measures.@PMOIndia @mansukhmandviya @DrBharatippawar @PIB_India
— Ministry of Health (@MoHFW_INDIA) March 23, 2022
Since March 24, 2020, the Ministry of Home Affairs has been issuing Orders and Guidelines under the Disaster Management Act, (DM Act) 2005, on the direction of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), for the containment of COVID-19 in the country.
The Central Government, in close collaboration with the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations (UTS), has taken a number of proactive steps to address the unprecedented global crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the MHA order, significant capacities have been developed over the last 24 months for various aspects of pandemic management, such as diagnostics, surveillance, contact tracing, treatment and vaccination, hospital infrastructure, and the general public has a much higher level of awareness on COVID appropriate behaviour.
States and UTs have also developed their own capacities and systems, as well as implemented detailed State/UT specific plans for managing the pandemic; the number of cases has dropped dramatically in the last seven weeks or so, according to the report. The country’s total caseload is only 23,913, and the daily positivity rate has dropped to 0.28 percent. It is also worth noting that a total of 181.56 Cr vaccine doses have been administered as a result of the collaborative efforts.