With third Covid wave fear looming, Centre cautions states as crowds return after easing of curbs

With the easing of Covid-19 restrictions leading to the resumption of crowding in markets, the Centre on Saturday directed the states and Union Territories to open up activities in a "carefully calibrated" manner. It also urged them to ensure the "extremely important" five-fold strategy of Covid-appropriate behaviour, test-track-treat and vaccination to prevent the spread of the disease.

This comes after AIIMS director Randeep Guleria warned that India could see a third wave of coronavirus in six to eight weeks if Covid-appropriate behaviour is not followed and crowding is not prevented.

Read all the latest updates on COVID-19 here.

In a communication to all states and UTs, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla also asked them to scale up the vaccination pace, to cover the maximum number of people in an expeditious manner, as inoculation, in the present scenario, is critical to breaking the chain of transmission.

Karnataka extends Covid lockdown in 13 districts, eases curbs in other parts

India was hit by a brutal second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in April and May, claiming a large number of lives and forcing almost all states and UTs to imposed lockdown or other curbs.

"With a decline in the number of active cases, many states and UTs have started relaxing restrictions However, easing of restrictions in some states, has led to resumption of crowding of people in markets etc., without adherence to the norms of COVID-appropriate behaviour," Ajay Bhalla said.

The home secretary added that while the opening up of activities after a decline in cases is essential, states and UTs must ensure that the whole process is "carefully calibrated".

"It is, therefore, essential to ensure that complacency does not set in, and there is no let-up in adhering to Covid-appropriate behaviour, while opening up activities," he asserted.

Earlier, India's epidemiologists had indicated that a third wave of Covid-19 is inevitable and is likely to start from September-October.

Telangana lifts lockdown completely, removes all Covid restrictions | Check details

Guleria had said there was a need for stricter surveillance and area-specific lockdowns in case of a significant surge. He said Covid-appropriate behaviour needs to be followed aggressively until a big chunk of the population is vaccinated.

The home secretary said in order to prevent relapse, regular monitoring of Covid-19 appropriate behaviour is required.

"To reiterate, Covid-appropriate behaviour includes mandatory use of masks, hand hygiene, social distancing and also proper ventilation of closed spaces," he said.

Bhalla said to contain the spread of the infection on a sustainable basis, it is necessary to continue the strategy of test-track-treat. It may especially be ensured that the testing rate does not come down, he said.

While adding that a close watch is needed on early signs of a surge in active cases or high positivity rates, as the situation is crucial, Bhalla said, "A system should be in place at the micro-level to ensure that whenever cases rise in a smaller place, it gets checked there itself, through local containment measures as per the existing guidelines issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare."

"I, therefore, urge you to issue directions to the district and all other authorities concerned, to keep a close watch on the situation, while activities are opened in a cautious manner, and to scrupulously ensure that there is no complacency in adhering to Covid-appropriate behaviour and in the test-track-treat-vaccinate strategy," Bhalla said in his communication.

Exclusive: Tossing Covid safety on dancefloor, no-holds-barred in NCR

India records over 60,000 cases in last 24 hours

India on Saturday registered 60,753 new Covid-19 cases, pushing the total tally to 2,98,23,546.

The number of active cases now stands at 7,60,019, the lowest in 74 days, according to Union health ministry data.

With 1,647 fresh fatalities, the death toll mounted to 3,85,137. While active cases comprise 2.55 per cent of the total infections, the national Covid-19 recovery rate has improved to 96.16 percent, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The country had reported more than 88.82 lakh coronavirus infections and 1,17,247 fatalities in May alone during the raging second wave of Covid-19, making it the worst month of the pandemic.

There is already a view that a third wave due to the Delta variant has hit the UK, where cases have again surged in recent weeks.

Indians more inclined towards life insurance during Covid's second wave

Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy announces lockdown relaxation in Andhra Pradesh