Centre urges states, UTs to impose restrictions for New Year

The Union Health Ministry has instructed state governments to keep a tab on New Year celebrations and regulate crowds, to avoid the spread of COVID-19 amid the emergence of a new virulent strain from the UK.

The Centre has advised states and Union Territories to impose restrictions on December 30, 31 and January 1 after taking stock of the situation, but has left the final decision to the regional government.

“The number of COVID-19 active cases is declining steadily in the country for the last three-and-half months. Keeping in view the fresh surge of COVID-19 cases in Europe and Americas, there is still a need for maintaining comprehensive precaution and strict surveillance within our country,” Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in a letter to states and Union Territories.

“You will appreciate that in the wake of New Year and various celebratory events associated with it as well as ongoing winter season, strict vigil is required to be maintained to curb all potential super spreader events and places where crowds may gather,” Bhushan said in the letter.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has advised states to impose local restrictions like night curfews, based on their assessment of the situation.

There, however, would be no restriction on inter-state and intra-state movement of people and goods.