No more COVID-19 restrictions except for masks in India from March 31

• The ministry of home affairs has decided to end all the COVID-19 restrictions from March 31.
• However, some measures like the use of face masks and hand hygiene will still continue as earlier.
• The union government had issued various guidelines and measures for the first time on March 24, 2020, under the Disaster Management Act.

As the COVID-19 cases continue to decline in India, the ministry of home affairs has decided to end all the COVID-19 restrictions from March 31. The ministry will be ending the two-year-long restrictions put during the outbreak of the pandemic.

Ajay Bhalla, current home secretary of India, said in the notification, “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.”

However, the ministry clarified that some measures like the use of face masks and hand hygiene will still continue as earlier.

He said, “I would like to mention that in view of the nature of the disease, we still need to remain watchful of the situation.”

He further guided all the states and union territories (UTs), “Wherever any surge in the number of cases is observed, the states/UTs may consider taking any prompt and proactive action at the local level, as advised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare from time to time.”

The union government had issued various guidelines and measures for the first time on March 24, 2020, under the Disaster Management Act to curb the COVID-19 situation in the country, which have been modified several times thereafter.

India currently has 23,087 active COVID-19 cases and recorded 1,778 new cases and 62 deaths in the last 24 hours. The daily positivity rate has also declined to 0.28%.

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