In NEW DELHI: The Center has requested that all states and union territories make sure that anyone attending large meetings or making a pilgrimage is asymptomatic and, ideally, fully immunized against Covid-19.
In a letter to states and UTs on Tuesday, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan warned that large-scale gatherings associated with holidays and yatras are likely to take place across the nation in the coming months, thereby facilitating the spread of infectious diseases like Covid-19.
A few states and UTs around the nation are currently experiencing a continuous upsurge in Covid-19 cases, even though the trend of cases has drastically decreased from levels that were reported in earlier parts of this year.
“During numerous such festivals and yatras, thousands of people travel hundreds of kilometres across states, stopping at rest stops set up by volunteers and locally-based religious organizations. Such assemblages could potentially help spread infectious diseases like Covid-19 “Bhushan remarked.
“Every state and UT where such large-scale meetings or yatras are planned should heavily publicize the requirement that anyone attending such events be asymptomatic and, ideally, completely immunized against COVID-19. If necessary, the administration may conduct a special campaign for primary vaccination and administer the precaution dose to all eligible individuals at least a fortnight beforehand for those expecting to participate “In the letter, he stated.
