Given the overall improvement in the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the country, there is no further need to invoke the Disaster Management Act for containment measures, the Union Home Secretary wrote to states and union territories on Tuesday. .In his letter, Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla stated that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has decided that there is no present need to invoke the Act and that the Union Home Ministry will not be issuing further notifications in that regard..The NDMA is the apex body for disaster management in the country, and has been issuing notifications on restrictions in view of the pandemic since its onset.Over 180 crore vaccine doses have been administered and the current caseload and positivity rate are at 23,913 and 0.28 per cent respectively, it was stated. The letter, however, emphasised the need to remain watchful of the situation, given the nature of the virus, and to maintain precautions and COVID appropriate behaviour like hand hygiene, social distancing and masks. The Union Health Ministry may keep issuing advisories and states may declare necessary steps to be taken if a surge is reported, the letter added. .[Read letter]
Given the overall improvement in the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the country, there is no further need to invoke the Disaster Management Act for containment measures, the Union Home Secretary wrote to states and union territories on Tuesday. .In his letter, Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla stated that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has decided that there is no present need to invoke the Act and that the Union Home Ministry will not be issuing further notifications in that regard..The NDMA is the apex body for disaster management in the country, and has been issuing notifications on restrictions in view of the pandemic since its onset.Over 180 crore vaccine doses have been administered and the current caseload and positivity rate are at 23,913 and 0.28 per cent respectively, it was stated. The letter, however, emphasised the need to remain watchful of the situation, given the nature of the virus, and to maintain precautions and COVID appropriate behaviour like hand hygiene, social distancing and masks. The Union Health Ministry may keep issuing advisories and states may declare necessary steps to be taken if a surge is reported, the letter added. .[Read letter]