As India witnesses a spurt in COVID-19 cases across several states, the Centre declared new guidelines that will be effective from December 1. The Central government also said that state government cannot impose lockdown without Centre’s consent. “States and UTs, based on their assessment of the situation, may impose local restrictions, with a view to contain the spread of COVID-19 such as night curfew. However, state and UT governments shall not impose any local lockdown (state/ district/ sub-division/City level), outside the containment zones, without prior consultation with the central government," the guidelines read.

While issuing guidelines for ‘Surveillance, Containment and Caution’ for December, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) stated the main objective of the directive is to combine the substantial gains which are visible in the steady decreas in the number of active cases in the country. Here are the full guidelines.

· The list of containment zones will be updated on the websites by the respective district collectors and by the states and UTs and this list will also be shared with the Union Health Ministry.

· Within the demarcated containment zone, containment measures, as prescribed by the health ministry shall be rigorously followed.

· Only essential activities shall be permitted in the containment zones and there shall be strict boundary control to ensure that there is no movement of people in or out of these zones, except for medical service and for maintaining the supply of essential goods.

· There shall be intensive house-to-house surveillance by teams formed.

· Awareness shall be created in communities on COVID-19.

· The health ministry will issue an SOP for observance of social distancing in markets, bazaars and public transport.

· The national directives for COVID-19 management shall last to be followed throughout the nation to impose COVID-19 appropriate behaviour.

· The states and UTs also need to impose social distancing in offices and cities.

· Testing shall be carried out as per the prescribed protocol.