Phased Easing of Lockdown

• 09 Apr 2020

Why in News

An expert committee headed by former Chief Secretary K.M. Abraham has recommended a phased relaxation of the lockdown to contain COVID-19 for areas outside the seven hotspot districts in the State of Kerala from April 15, 2020.

Key Points

• The committee said that the phased withdrawal (in three phases) is sustainable only if there is a steady recovery and decline in the number of cases leading to initial flattening of the infection curve and then gradual tapering of the curve to zero infection cases.
• It has asked the government to advise the people that in the event of a resurgence, they should be ready and willing to undergo the rigours of a complete lockdown once again.
• The committee has also come up with health-related and non-health-related objectives for the withdrawal strategy and steps for management of hotspots and vulnerable populations.
• The Committee has also set criteria for moving into three phases of lockdown withdrawal.
  
  • For example, for qualifying for Phase I relaxation,
    
    • there has to be not more than one new case in the district for the entire week prior to the date of review on April 14.
    • No increase of more than 10% of the number of persons under home surveillance in the district and no hotspots of COVID-19 anywhere in the district.

Source: TH