‘Cases declining but we're still in midst of 2nd wave'

Govt allows Covid vaccines at home to differently-abled & those with restricted mobility

NEW DELHI: The Union Health Ministry on Thursday said the second Covid wave has not subsided yet even as cases are declining. The ministry also asked people to follow Coronavirus preventive measures to protect themselves.

The Union Health ministry also allowed Covid-19 vaccination at home for differently-abled and those with restricted mobility. Keeping in mind the festive season ahead, the ministry urged people to avoid mass gatherings in containment zones and in districts with over 5 per cent positivity rate.

During the presser, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said: “For the 12th consecutive week, weekly positivity rate continues to decline and is less than 3%...Recovery rate 97.8% in the country.”

Bhushan added: “66% of the 18+ population has received at least one dose of COVID vaccines; 23% of the 18+ population received both doses. We have been able to achieve this due to tremendous work by some states.”

Six states and Union Territories (UTs) have covered 100 per cent of the first doses to their population. These are Lakshadweep, Chandigarh, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Sikkim, he said. Four states and UTs have more than 90 per cent coverage of the first dose — these are Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Kerala, Ladakh, and Uttarakhand, he informed.

In the last 24 hours, India has reported around 31,000 cases odd cases and most of these infections have been found in two states of Kerala and Maharashtra, the Health Ministry said.