‘If Covid appropriate behaviour not maintained…’: MHA sends advisory to states

The Union home ministry and family welfare have issued an advisory to the states and union territories over “blatant violation” of Covid-19 norms, saying there is a need to “guard ourselves against complacency and laxity, which has crept in as positivity has declined”.

The advisory also asked the state to make officers personally responsible for any laxity in strict enforcement of Covid appropriate behaviour. Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla said, “If the norms of Covid-19 appropriate behaviour are not maintained at any establishment/premises/markets etc, such places shall be liable for the re-imposition of restrictions, for containing the spread of Covid-19 and the defaulters shall also be liable for action under the relevant laws,”

It said that people have been found violating the Covid-19 norms in several parts of the country, especially in public transport and at hill stations. “Massive crowds are also thronging the market places, violating the norms of social distancing,” the ministry said.

It also said that the increase in R-Factor (reproduction number which indicates the speed at which infection is spreading) in some of the states, is a matter of concern.” You may be aware that any increase in ‘R’ factor above 1.0 is an indicator of the spread of Covid-19,” the advisory said.

“It is emphasised that the second wave of Covid is not yet over. We ought to remember that while the reach of vaccination is increasing considerably, there is no room for complacency and hence COVID appropriate behaviour must continue in line with our philosophy of ‘dawai bhi kadai bhi’. Testing needs to be continued with the same vigour, as adequate testing is extremely essential in terms of checking the virus and early identification of cases,” it further said.

The home ministry advisory came a day after Narendra Modi interacted with chief ministers of northeastern states, where he expressed concern about the rush of tourists at popular destinations.

“We often hear the argument that we must enjoy before a third wave hits. People must understand that the third wave will not arrive on its own,” Modi said. At a press briefing on Tuesday, a health ministry official said that people are violating Covid protocols across the country.

Photos have surfaced in recent weeks of people rush to Moosurie and Nanital in Uttarakhand and roaming around with little regard to social distancing norms or wearing of masks.