State Governments will issue orders allowing only essential services
to operate in districts with confirmed COVID-19 cases. The focus should
be on closure of all activities except essential services such as
hospitals, telecom, medicine shops, provision stores etc
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Cabinet Secretary and PS to Hon. Prime Minister
Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister
reviewed the status, actions taken and preparedness regarding management
and containment of COVID-19 in a high level with Chief Secretaries of
States through a video conference, here today. The increase in the
number of confirmed cases during the last few days was discussed. The
Central Government impressed upon the States the need for urgent and
effective interventions.
After detailed discussions, the following decisions were taken:
State Governments will issue orders allowing only essential services
to operate in districts with confirmed COVID-19 cases. The focus should
be on closure of all activities except essential services such as
hospitals, telecom, medicine shops, provision stores etc.
Establishments/factories engaged in manufacturing and distribution of
essential commodities like medicines, vaccines, sanitizers, masks,
medical devices, their ancillaries and support services etc., should be
exempt from these restrictions.
State Governments may expand the list depending on their assessment of the situation.
All train services suspended till 31st March 2020 including sub urban rail services.
Good trains may continue to operate for facilitating availability of essential commodities.
All metro rail services suspended till 31st March 2020.
Interstate passenger transport also to be suspended till 31st Mar 2020.
Transport services may operate at mere skeletal level
These measures are temporary but extremely vital to break the chain of transmission.
States were also requested to ensure that while such measures are
being taken, necessary steps to minimize discomfort to the poor and
disadvantaged sections of the society may be ensured.
States to request industries, establishments etc., to allow their
employees to work from home and provide remuneration to them during this
period.
Central Government has already asked Labour Ministry and Ministry of
Corporate Affairs to issue necessary instructions to this effect.
States were further asked to ramp up the readiness to manage the positive cases in health facilities.
States to assess the availability of medical services including quarantine and scale them up to meet all possible contingencies.
States were asked to have earmarked facilities fully dedicated to manage the COVID-19 cases only.
Each State was requested to identify and ensure that such hospitals are equipped to manage the COVID 19 cases.
Following is the list of the districts which have reported confirmed COVID-19 cases:
