No further lockdown; night curfew allowed

New Delhi: Taking note of the recent spike in the Covid-19 cases in some States and Union Territories, the Centre on Wednesday issued a fresh set of guidelines to strictly implement the prescribed containment rules and Covid-appropriate behaviour by the States/UTs. The guidelines will come into effect from December 1 and will remain in force till December 31.

However, the State governments need to consult with the Central government over imposition of any local lockdown outside the containment zones. The guidelines also called for increased surveillance in containment zones. The Centre said States can impose additional fines and curbs on gatherings.

The guidelines come as Maharashtra and Delhi have registered a spike in Covid cases due to the increased footfall in public places during the festival season. States like Gujarat and Punjab have imposed night curfews in major cities and other Covid affected areas.