The next phase of India’s vaccination drive will begin today in which the Centre will provide free Covid vaccines to everyone above 18 years of age. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced on the 7th of this month that the Centre will buy 75 percent of the total production of the vaccine producers and provide to the states free of cost. No state government will have to spend anything on vaccines.
Mr. Modi had informed in his address to the nation that the system of 25 percent vaccines being procured directly by the private hospitals will continue. State governments will monitor that only 150 rupees service charge is levied by the private hospitals over the decided price of the vaccines.
The move is aimed at strengthening and further ramping up the Covid-19 vaccination drive in the country. An early estimate suggests that the new policy will cost the Centre over 15 thousand crore rupees more than its previously allocated 35 thousand crore rupees for the Vaccination program in the current financial year. The Centre will also pay the GST of 5 percent on the vaccines procured. Till now, crores of people got free vaccines. From today, all adults above the age group of 18 in the country will get free vaccination at all government facilities.
In Uttar Pradesh, more relaxation in covid restrictions will be implemented from today in the state. Malls, restaurants, and other shopping complexes will open from today but strict adherence to the covid protocol will be a must.
Now 50 persons can attend the marriage functions and religious programs at a given time in the state with strict adherence to the covid protocol. shopping malls and restaurants will be allowed to operate with 50% capacity on weekdays till 9 pm. Other standalone shops and market complexes can also remain open for five days a week now. The government has made it very clear that covid help desks and pulse oximeters will be a must at the entry gates of Malls restaurants or any gathering. vegetable and fruit markets that are in the congested areas will be shifted to open areas and it will be the administration’s responsibility to maintain the social distance there.
The relaxations in COVID restrictions in Delhi have been further extended till 5 AM of 28th June. Delhi Disaster Management Authority announced further easing of restrictions that were imposed during the second wave of COVID 19. Public parks, gardens, golf clubs, and outdoor yoga activities will be allowed from today.
The government has decided to grant two more hours of relaxation in the statewide night curfew that currently remains imposed in all its 75 districts. Now shops in the state can open from 7 am in the morning to 9 pm in the evening. Night curfew will now be imposed from 9 pm in the evening across the state.
As per the guidelines, all markets, market complexes, and malls will be open from 10 AM to 8 PM. Restaurants have been allowed up to 50 percent of the seating capacity from 8 AM to 10 PM and bars from 12 PM to 10 PM.
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa had announced on Friday relaxations in lockdown norms in 16 districts of the state where the Covid Positivity rate is below five percent. These relaxations will be effective from today and remain so till July 5th. In the remaining fourteen districts with over five percent positivity rate, the lockdown norms will continue as before.
