<span style="color: #222222;">The Guidelines issued by Union Home Ministry for effective control of COVID-19 will come into effect from tomorrow and will remain in force upto 30th April. The main focus of the Guidelines is to consolidate the substantial gains achieved in containing the spread of COVID-19, which was visible in the sustained decline in the number of active cases, continuously for about five months.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Keeping in view a fresh surge in COVID-19 cases, which is being witnessed in some parts of the country, the guidelines mandate the State and Union Territories Governments to strictly enforce the Test- Track-Treat protocol and ensure observance of COVID appropriate behaviour by everyone and to scale up the vaccination drive to cover all the target groups. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">It is also emphasized that in order to ensure that the resumption of activities is successful and to fully overcome the pandemic, there is need to strictly follow the prescribed containment strategy, and strictly observe the guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures issued by the Home Ministry, Health Ministry, other Ministries, Departments of the Central Government and State Governments.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">With regard to Test-Track-Treat protocol, the Home Ministry said, States and UTs, where the proportion of RT-PCR tests is less, should rapidly increase it, to reach the prescribed level of 70 per cent or more. The Ministry said, based on the positive cases and tracking of their contacts, Containment Zones shall be carefully demarcated by the district authorities, at the micro level.</span><br />'' <b><span style="color: #222222;">   </span></b><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">As per the guidelines, State and UT Governments will take all necessary measures to promote COVID-19 appropriate behaviour in work places and in public, especially in crowded places. States and UTs may consider administrative actions, including imposition of appropriate fines. States and UTs, based on their assessment of the situation, may impose local restrictions, at district and sub-district and city or ward level, with a view to contain the spread of COVID-19. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">There shall be no restriction on inter-State and intra-State movement of persons and goods. All activities have been permitted outside Containment Zones and SOPs have been prescribed for various activities including movement by passenger trains, air travel, metro trains, schools, shopping malls and yoga centres. </span><br />''