11,793 new Covid cases, 27 fatalities in 24 hours

Centre asks states, UTs to be alert amid yatras, fests

Ahead of festive season, the Centre has asked states and UTs to ensure that people taking part in mass gatherings and undertaking pilgrimage are asymptomatic and preferably fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

In the last 24 hours, India recorded 11,793 new coronavirus infections, pushing the country's tally to 4,34,18,839, while the active cases rose to 96,700. The death toll climbed to 5,25,047 with 27 new fatalities — 13 from Kerala, five from Maharashtra, three each from Delhi and Punjab and one each from MP, Mizoram and Uttarakhand.

In a letter to states and UTs on Tuesday, Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said mass gatherings in context of various festivities as well as yatras are likely to be held in different parts of the country in the coming months, and that such congregations may potentially facilitate transmission of infectious diseases, including Covid-19.

The letter said : “During many such events/yatras lakhs of individuals undertake intra- and inter-state journey spanning hundreds of kilometres with halting points arranged by volunteers and community-based social/religious organisations. Such congregations may potentially facilitate transmission of infectious diseases, including Covid19.” The Amarnath pilgrimage begins on June 30 and the Rath Yatra is scheduled for July 1.

The Centre has also stressed on continuous alertness and advised states and UTs reporting a surge in Covid cases to strictly monitor epidemiological profile of admitted coronavirus-infected patients and report the clinical manifestations to the health ministry, rather than random or anecdotal reporting.

At a review meeting with 14 states and UTs, Mr Bhushan said the uptake in second and precaution doses in many states reporting the present surge was low and advised them to rapidly accelerate the vaccination coverage especially of the 60 plus elderly population, and second dose among 12-17 population group. The Drugs Controller General of India has also approved Serum Institute’s Covid-19 vaccine Covovax for restricted emergency use in children aged 7 to 11 years subject to certain conditions. India has administered over 197.31 crore doses of vaccine for Covid-19 to its eligible population.

◗ AS PER the data, over 197.31cr doses of vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide Covid inoculation drive