With Covid-19 and its sub-variant Omicron XBB causing increasing concern in India, the government announced on Tuesday that there is no need for a second dose of the booster or precautionary vaccine shot. “First, we need to finish the booster drive in the country,” government sources said.
According to Union Health Ministry data updated on Tuesday, India saw a single-day increase of 134 in coronavirus infections, with active cases falling to 2,582. The total number of Covid cases is 4.46 crore (4,46,78,956).
Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya visited the Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport’s screening and Covid testing facility on Monday, amid an increase in coronavirus cases in some countries, including China. The government has made random Covid tests mandatory for 2% of all passengers arriving on international flights, regardless of port of departure.
Furthermore, beginning January 1, passengers arriving in India from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Thailand will be required to provide Covid negative reports.
According to ministry data, a total of 220.11 million vaccine doses (95.13 million second doses and 22.41 million precaution doses) have been administered as part of the Nationwide Vaccination Drive.