‘Spike largely due to laxity’: Centre asks states to ensure compliance of COVID norms amid fresh surge

March 20, 2021

Alarmed over a fresh spike in coronavirus cases in the country, the Centre on Friday wrote a letter to all states and Union territories, asking them to ensure strict compliance of COVID-appropriate behaviour like wearing of masks, maintaining hand hygiene and social distancing among people.
In the letter to the chief secretaries of all the states and Union territories, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said that the sudden spike in cases is largely due to laxity, particularly at crowded places, while urging the states and UTs to take all necessary measures to promote COVID-appropriate behaviour.
Bhalla said the states and UTs have been mandated to ensure that people wear face masks, maintain hand hygiene and social distancing. Further, these measures are also included in the National Directives for COVID-19 Management, which have to be strictly followed throughout the country.
“After a steady decline in the number of COVID-19 cases for about five months, for the last few weeks, the number is showing an increasing trend in several parts of the country. It has been observed that it is largely due to laxity in the observance of COVID-appropriate behaviour by people, especially at crowded places,” Bhalla said.

He further said it is important to ensure compliance of the guidelines and strictly enforce COVID-appropriate behaviour in view of the sudden surge in the number of cases and the upcoming festivals.
“I would, therefore, urge you to take the necessary measures for creating awareness among people to follow COVID-appropriate behaviour and simultaneously take the necessary action for its strict enforcement, so as to fully overcome the pandemic,” the home secretary said.
India on Friday reported 39,726 new coronavirus infections in a day, the highest single-day spike recorded so far this year, pushing the COVID-19 tally to 1,15,14,331.