Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla on Monday wrote to all states and UT governments to implement an intensive, local and focused containment framework for COVID management. In his letter to the states and UTs, Bhalla wrote, "Considering this unprecedented surge, there is an urgent need for states and UTs to consider strict COVID management and control measures, in the surge areas to bring the situation under control."
"Accordingly, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has advised all states and UT governments to implement an intensive, local and focused containment framework, focused on specific districts/ cities/ areas, and identified based on a prescribed criterion. All states/UTs have also been advised to consider a further graded response," the letter said.
The home secretary further said in his letter, "I would, therefore, urge you to issue directions to district authorities in your State/UT, to take all necessary measures, as advised by MoHFW in their letter, for the implementation of the containment framework, so as to flatten the curve. I would also advise that orders issued by the respective state governments/UT administrations/district authorities, for imposing restrictions, should be widely disseminated to the public and to the field functionaries for their effective implementation."
India recorded 3,46,786 new coronavirus cases, the highest single-day spike since the pandemic broke out last year. According to the official data, the country has recorded 2,624 new deaths due to COVID-19 in the last 24 hours
The country's total infection count has mounted to 1,66,10,481 cases. Meanwhile, 1,89,544 people have succumbed to the viral infection so far. Currently, there are 25,52,940 active cases of COVID-19 in the country, said the official data of the ministry. As many as 1,38,67,997 recoveries have been reported so far. Out of which 2,19,838 reported in the last 24 hours.
