STATE TIMES NEWS
New Delhi: The Centre on Monday maintained the COVID-19 restrictions on various activities, noting that while there has been a continuous decline in active cases in India, there is a need for surveillance, containment and caution due to a surge globally and the emergence of a new variant of the virus in the UK.
J&K reports 156 new COVID cases, 6 deaths
JAMMU: In all, 156 new positive cases of novel Corona virus (COVID-19), 66 from Jammu division and 90 from Kashmir division, were reported on Monday, thus taking the total to 1,20,293. Also 6 COVID-19 deaths have been reported; 1 from Jammu Division and 5 from Kashmir Division.
Moreover, 275 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and discharged from various hospitals including 155 from Jammu Division and 120 from Kashmir Division.
According to the daily Media Bulletin, out of 1,20,293 positive cases, 3,157 are Active Positive, 1,15,261 have recovered and 1,875 have died; 692 in Jammu division and 1,183 in Kashmir division. The Bulletin further said that out of 37,39,623test results available, 36,19,330 samples have been tested as negative till December 28, 2020.
Till date 8,72,900 persons have been enlisted for observation which included 15,697persons in home quarantine including facilities operated by government, 3,157 in isolation and 29,925 in home surveillance. Besides, 822,246 persons have completed their surveillance period.
In a statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said it has issued fresh guidelines for surveillance with regard to COVID-19 that will remain in force till January 31, as it asked the states and union territories to keep a strict vigil to prevent any rise in cases during the New Year celebrations and the winter season.
It also asked the states and UTs to actively support central authorities in the preparations for an expected vaccination drive.
“While there has been a continuous decline in the active and new COVID-19 cases, there is a need to maintain surveillance, containment and caution, keeping in view the surge in cases globally, and the emergence of a new variant of the virus in the UK.
“Accordingly, containment zones continue to be demarcated carefully; prescribed containment measures strictly followed within these zones; COVID-appropriate behaviour promoted and strictly enforced, and the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) prescribed in respect of various permitted activities followed scrupulously,” the MHA said.
The ministry said a focussed approach on surveillance and containment and a strict observance of the guidelines and SOPs issued by it and the health ministry, as envisaged in the guidelines issued last month, need to be enforced by the states and union territories.
