Covid-19 guidelines for states, UTs extended till August 31

Union home secretary cautioned the states and UTs that there no room for complacency even though Covid-19 cases have been witnessing a declining trend.

The Centre on Wednesday extended the containment measures for coronavirus disease (Covid-19) for states and Union territories till August 31. In a letter to the chief secretaries of states and Union territories, secretary of the Union home affairs ministry Ajay Bhalla asked them to ensure strict enforcement of Covid-appropriate behaviour in each districts.

Covid-19 norms in many states and Union territories are being relaxed with declining cases even as the threat of a third wave of the pandemic looms large. (AFP)

"There is no room for complacency," Bhalla wrote in his letter and said the process of relaxing restrictions should be carefully calibrated.

The letter comes at a time when many states and Union territories have begun to relax lockdown-like measures and reopening activities in a phased manner, as Covid-19 cases are gradually declining.

Highlighting the possibility of gathering of people during festive days ahead, Bhalla asked the states and the UTs to focus on five-fold strategy of testing, tracking, treating, vaccinating and adhering to Covid-appropriate behaviour to effectively manage the containment of Covid-19.

He directed the states to hold officials responsible for any laxity in "strict enforcement" of Covid-19 protocol.