Selective relaxation in non-containment areas from April 20: Health ministry

NEW DELHI: Selective relaxation will be given in non-containment areas from April 20, but strict restrictions will continue in districts declared Covid-19 hotspots, the government said on Sunday.

Addressing a daily media briefing to give updates on the novel coronavirus situation in the country, Joint Secretary in the Health Ministry Lav Agarwal said some activities in agricultural sector and rural economy would be permitted as part of ensuring “Jaan bhi hai jahan bhi hai (life and wellbeing)”.

He also said a high-level task force to work on frontiers of science related to vaccines and drug testing was formed on Sunday.

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“The co-chair of the task force are member of the Niti Aayog and the principal scientific advisor to the government. Besides them, AYUSH, ICMR, Department of Science and Technology, Biotechnology, CSIR, DRDO, DG Health Services and Drug Controller are also its members,” Agarwal said.

He said 1,334 fresh Covid-19 cases were reported since Saturday with 27 deaths in the last 24 hours. Total cases stand at 15,712 and deaths at 5