After Two Years, There Will Be No Covid Restrictions From March 31 In India, Mask To Stay

As the COVID-19 cases in India continue to drop, the country has decided to end almost all pandemic-related restrictions, which were in place for two years.

Except for the wearing face masks and maintaining physical distancing norms, all the other COVID-19 restrictions will end from March 31.

¡°After taking into consideration the overall improvement in the situation and preparedness of the Government to deal with the pandemic, National Disaster Management Authority has taken a decision that there may not be any further need to invoke the provisions of the DM Act for COVID containment measures,¡± Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said in a communication to the chief secretaries of all states.

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The Central government had on March 24, 2020 issued for the first time orders and guidelines under the Disaster Management Act, (DM Act) 2005 for the containment of COVID-19 in the country and these have been modified on various occasions.

Over the last 24 months, significant capacities have been developed for various aspects of management of the pandemic, such as diagnostics, surveillance, contact tracing, treatment, vaccination, hospital infrastructure.

Also, the general public now has much higher level of awareness on the COVID-appropriate behavior, he said.

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The states and Union Territories have also developed their own capacities and systems and implemented their detailed specific plans for managing the pandemic, he said, adding over the last seven weeks or so there has been a steep decline in the number of cases.

However, the Home Secretary said that in view of the nature of the disease, people still need to remain watchful of the situation.

He also said that whenever any surge in the number of cases is observed, states and UTs may consider taking prompt and proactive action at the local level, as advised by the Ministry of Health from time to time.

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Earlier this month, in another sign of normalcy returning, India has decided to resume scheduled international flights from and to the country.

International flight operations of scheduled international flights, to and from India, are set to resume from March 27, 2022.

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"After having recognised the increased vaccination coverage across the globe and in consultation with the stakeholders, the government of India has decided to resume scheduled commercial international passenger services," the ministry of civil aviation said in a statement on March 8.

Regular scheduled international flight operations were suspended to and from India on March 23, 2020.

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