Bengaluru: With the outbreak of the new XE strain of Covid – 19 in some foreign countries, Health Minister Dr. K. Sudhakar on Monday April 11 urged people to complete their vaccinations.
“Please ensure that all of your vaccination doses are completed as soon as possible,” said Sudhakar after a meeting with the Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).
XE variant Covid – 19 cases have increased in eight different countries, including China, Hong Kong, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Germany, he added.
The Minister further informed that the TAC has recommended thermal screening, strict surveillance, and mandatory quarantine for passengers arriving from the eight countries for 10 days.
The State Government will soon release guidelines regarding this.
Additionally, Sudhakar urged people to wear masks, stating that IIT Kanpur has predicted another Coivd wave around June and July.
“A total of 4.77 crore (98 per cent) people under the 60+ category have taken the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine and only 49 per cent of people have taken their precautionary dose,” he added.
He said that in the 15-17 age group, 25,11,407 people out of 30,00,000 have taken the vaccine, amounting to 79 per cent, and only 65 per cent have taken the second dose.
Among the 12-14 age group, only 13,96,000 children have received the vaccine out of 20,00,000 amounting to 69 per cent. He urged parents to have their children vaccinated.
As there are no vaccines for young kids, Sudhakar said that 5,000 children will be tested across the state as per the recommendation of the TAC.
“We have received complaints of some hospitals overcharging for vaccines. The government will not tolerate this. A high-level meeting has been held and a committee has been formed in this regard,” he said.
Inputs from IANS
