20 per cent eligible adults fully vaccinated in India: Govt

A health worker vaccinates a man at a COVID-19 vaccination centre in New Delhi on Tuesday. Pic/AFP

The government on Thursday said there is stabilisation in the Covid-19 situation in the country, and that there is a need to be cautious for the next couple of months as it is also the period of festivals. It added that 20 per cent of India's adult population have received both doses of Covid-19 vaccine and 62 per cent have got at least one dose.

"Overall there is stabilisation in Covid-19 cases and Kerala has also reported drop in cases.... In the coming two-three months, we need to be cautious that there is no upsurge.... It is also the period of festivities and also when flu cases rise...we request everyone to be careful and retain the gain that we have achieved (in the pandemic management)," an official said at a press briefing.

Referring to festivals, ICMR DG Balram Bhargava said, "...If there is sudden increase in population density then the virus finds it very useful to spread, so the call of the hour is vaccine acceptance, adherace to Covid-appropriate behaviour, responsible travel and festivities." The Centre said 34 districts in India are reporting a weekly positivity rate of over 10 per cent. It said Kerala reported 67.79 per cent of India's total Covid-19 cases last week and that it is the only state with more than 1 lakh active cases.

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With 30,570 more people testing positive for Covid-19, India's overall infection tally has risen to 3,33,47,325, while the count of active cases has dipped to 3,42,923, according to the Union health ministry on Thursday morning. The death toll climbed to 4,43,928 with 431 fresh fatalities.

Meanwhile, five patients developed gallbladder gangrene after recovering from Covid-19, with doctors at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi saying that it is the first report of such cases in India. The five patients - four men and a woman - were successfully treated at the hospital between June and August. They were aged between 37 years and 75 years.

U'hand HC allows Chardham Yatra

The Uttarakhand High Court on Thursday vacated its stay on the Chardham Yatra and directed the state government to conduct the pilgrimage with strict adherence to Covid-19 norms. A division bench said carrying a negative Covid-19 test report and a vaccination certificate will also be mandatory for the visitors, it added. Putting a daily cap on the number of devotees, the HC said 800 pilgrims will be allowed in Kedarnath Dham, 1,200 in Badrinath Dham, 600 in Gangotri and 400 in Yamunotri every day. Pilgrims will not be allowed to take a bath in any of the springs around the temples, it said.

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