States may de-notify containment zones in 14 days after discharge of last confirmed case: Govt

NEW DELHI: Taking cognizance of the problems faced by residents due to prolonged period of delineation of containment zones, the health ministry has suggested states may de-notify the containment zones in 14 days after discharge of the last confirmed case, instead of 28 days as specified earlier.
The move is aimed at providing some relaxations and easing activities in states that are experiencing continuing outbreaks in some containment zones and buffer zones, keeping them under lockdown for long period.
“In such cases to have another period of 28 days, to de-notify such CZs brings hardships to its residents. Hence, some States have requested to review the same,” a office memorandum issued by the Emergency Medical relief department of the health ministry said.
However, states have been asked to continue with rigorous testing and surveillance of SARI and ILI cases even in de-notified containment and buffer zones.
The order, issued on Wednesday, also noted that such continuing outbreaks reflect “less than satisfactory active surveillance, contact tracing, testing and inadequate adherence to home isolation guidelines, asking states to strengthen surveillance and increase testing manifold in such containment zones.
To reduce inconveniences to residents, the ministry suggested that local authorities may scale down surveillance if no lab confirmed Covid-9 case is reported from the containment zone for at least 14 days after the last confirmed case has been isolated and all its contacts have been followed up for 14 days.