MHA Reiterates Five-Fold Strategy To States Ahead Of Festival Season

New Delhi: In view of the festival season ahead, with major festivals like Diwali and Chhath coming up, the Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has advised states to take suitable measures to avoid large gatherings.

There is a need to continue to focus on the five-fold strategy of test-track-treat-vaccination and adherence to COVID-appropriate behaviour for an effective management of COVID-19, the home secretary added.

Adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour is essential for tackling the pandemic on a sustained basis, he said, adding that weekly data from states and UTs regarding wearing of facemask, maintaining social distancing, imposition of fines etc indicates a downward trend in enforcement.

“States and UTs are requested to augment their enforcement efforts for effectively checking transmission of the disease,” he said.

Bhalla said the country has made significant progress in vaccination and state governments and UT administrations should continue their drive so as to inoculate maximum number of eligible people.

Further, the home secretary said, it must be ensured that areas having no virus or low transmission are adequately protected by progressively ramping up testing and other measures such as monitoring for ILI and SARI (Influenza-Like Illness and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection), and market surveillance.

“I would, therefore, urge you to issue strict directions to the district and all other local authorities concerned, to take necessary measures for management of COVID- 19.

The officers concerned should be made personally responsible for any laxity in strict enforcement of COVID Appropriate Behaviour.