CHANDIGARH, MARCH 12
To prevent the outbreak and spread of the novel Corona Virus, Haryana Government has notified, ‘The Haryana Epidemic Disease, COVID-19 Regulations, 2020' under section 2, 3 and 4 of the Epidemic Disease Act 1897. The regulations shall come into force immediately and shall remain valid for a period of one year from the date of publication of this notification.
Under these regulations, all hospitals (Government and Private) should have Flu corners for the screening of suspected cases of COVID- 19. All hospitals (Government and Private) during the screening of such cases shall record the history of travel of the person if he/she travelled to any country or area where COVID-19 has been reported. In addition the history of coming in contact with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID- 19 shall be recorded. In case the person has any such history in the last 14 days and the person is asymptomatic then the person must be kept in home quarantine for 14 days from the day of exposure.
In case the person has any such history in the last 14 days and the person is asymptomatic then the person must be kept in home quarantine for 14 days from the day of exposure.
In case the person has any such history in the last 14 days and the person is symptomatic as per case definition of COVID-19, a person must be isolated in a hospital as per protocol and will be tested for COVID-19 as per protocol. Information of all such the case should be given to the office of Civil Surgeon of the district immediately.
No person, institution, Organization will use any print or electronic media for information regarding COVID-19 without prior permission of the Health Department, Haryana. This is to avoid the spread of any rumour or unauthenticated information regarding COVID-19. In case, any person, institution, Organization is found indulging in such activity; it will be treated as a punishable offence under these regulations.
No private Laboratories have been authorized to take test samples for COVID-19 in Haryana. All such samples will be collected as per the guidelines of Government of India and these will be sent to designated labs by the District Nodal Officer appointed by the Health Department, Haryana.
Under these regulations, Any person with a history of travel in last 14 days to a country or area from COVID-19 has been reported must report to nearest Government hospital or call at toll-free helpline number 108 so that necessary measures if required may be intimated by Health Department.
All persons with a history of travel to a country or area from where COVID- 1 9 has been reported in last 14 days, but who do not have any symptoms of cough, fever, difficulty in breathing, should isolate themselves at home and cover their mouth and nose with a mask. Such persons must take precautions to avoid contact with any person including family members for 14 days from the date of arrival from such areas.
Under these regulations, Authorized persons under this Act are Director Health Services, Director Medical Education and Research at State Level and Deputy Commissioner, Civil Surgeon, SDM and Senior Medical Officer in the Districts and officers as authorized by Department of Health Services.
Meanwhile, authorized persons as per section 3 of these regulations are authorized under this Act to admit a person and isolate the person if required in case he/she has a history of the visit to an area where COVID- 1 9 is endemic and the concerned person is symptomatic.
If a suspected case of COVID-19 refuses admission or isolation, the officers authorized in section 3 of these regulations will have powers to forcefully and isolate such case for a period of 14 days from the onset of symptoms or till reports of Lab tests are received or such period as may be necessary.
If cases of COVID-19 are reported from a defined geographic area such as village, town, ward, colony, settlement, the District Administration of the concerned district shall have the right to implement the following containment measures but not limited to these, in order to prevent the spread of the disease other precautionary measures can also be taken including sealing of the geographical area, barring entry and exit of the population from the containment area, closure of schools, offices and banning public gatherings, banning vehicular movement in the area, initiating active and passive surveillance of COVID- 19 cases, hospital isolation of all suspected cases and designating any Government/ Building as containment unit for isolation of the cases.
The staff of all Government departments will be at disposal of district Administration of the concerned area for discharging the duty of containment measures. Further any other measure as directed by Health Department Haryana.
The District Disaster Management Committee headed by Deputy Commissioner is authorized for planning strategy regarding containment measures for COVID- 19 in their respective Districts. The Deputy Commissioner may co-opt more officers from different departments for the District Disaster Management Committee for this activity under these regulations.
Meanwhile, any person, institution, organization found violating any provision of these regulations shall be deemed to have committed an offence punishable under section 188 of Indian penal Code (45 of 1860). Additional Chief Secretary Health or Deputy Commissioner of a district may penalize any person, institution, organization if found violating provisions of these regulations or any further orders issued by Government under these regulations.
No suit or legal proceedings shall lie against any person for anything done or intended to be done in good faith under this Act unless proved otherwise.
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