After a rise of 678 COVID-19 cases and 33 deaths in the last 24 hours as per the Health ministry, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has directed all states and Union Territories to ensure that lockdown is strictly adhered to and to make sure that social or religious gatherings or processions are not allowed.
According to the MHA, it has been communicated to states and UTs to inform district authorities and field agencies on the specific prohibitions as mentioned in the 'Consolidated Guidelines of MHA on Lockdown measures on containment of COVID-19' and that they should take all required precautionary/preventive measures for maintenance of law and order, peace and public tranquillity.
“Appropriate vigil on social media should also be maintained against circulation of any objectionable content,” the MHA said in their communication.
It added that the guideline’s respective provisions should be circulated among public authorities, social or religious organisations and citizens, saying that violations of any lockdown measures can be met with action under the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and the IPC.
After the recent incidents along the border, the Home Minister has also reviewed the protection of Indo-Pak and Indo-Bangladesh borders via a video-conference meeting with officers of the Border Security Force, the Press Information Bureau said. The Home Minister has asked that vigilance be strengthened at borders especially in areas without border fencing, and that no cross-border movement be allowed.
Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had warned that cases in India could peak by mid-September, referring to a PGI report to say that by then 58 per cent of the population could be infected.
India had 6,412 total cases of COVID-19 as of Friday, of which 503 had recovered.
