In the event of outbreak of Novel CoronaVirus disease (COVID 19), the Government had declared country-wide lockdown in various phases and controlled the movement of masses. Alongwith the lockdown, the respective State Governments have invoked the provisions of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 to impose certain restrictions in order to prevent the spread of COVID 19. Penal provisions of the said statutes are being used as preventive and curative measures. In this post we would be explaining the scope of powers under the two statutes, and the deficiencies therein. We further explore the Public Health (Prevention, Control and Management of Epidemics, Bio-terrorism and Disasters) Bill, 2017 and recommend promulgating it as an Ordinance to better counter the pandemic, since it would enable stricter penalties and statutory support for implementation of policies regarding ‘quarantine’, ‘social distancing’, ‘isolatio