Covid-19 Situation Might Turn ‘Dangerous’: Health Minister Harsh Vardhan

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Saturday maintained that the reason behind the recent surge of Covid-19 cases in India is the laxity shown by people in following Covid-19 protocols. Urging people not to let their guard down, the minister warned that the situation may turn “dangerous”.

“With vaccines available now, people feel they should not wear masks. Maximum people hang their masks around their neck, some keep it in their pocket and some do not use it at all,” Vardhan said on Saturday evening.

“Covid-19 cases have again started rising at some places in the country for the past some time and the laxity shown by people towards the infection is the basic reason behind it,” Vardhan said, adding that the situation may turn “dangerous”. “I want to appeal to people of the country that they should not let the Covid appropriate behaviour get weakened at any cost.

Maintaining social distancing, wearing masks properly and washing hands with soap probably are the biggest tools to win the fight against Covid-19,” said Vardhan. The Union health minister further said the two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, which had been made available in the country are the second tool in this fight against contagion.

He also said there was no need for vaccination for all from the scientific point of view while asserting that the two vaccines developed in the country are completely safe and effective. The vaccination drive should also be turned into a mass movement, he said, adding that the vaccines are available at 50,000 government and private health facilities in the country.

The Union health minister said the priority groups have been set after keeping in the mind the scientific criteria and studying the behaviour of Covid-19. “You know that the behaviour of Covid virus is dynamic and the vaccination process is also dynamic. Under this dynamic process, the criteria will be expanded as and when the time requires,” he said.