Masks make a return in India as Covid cases rise globally again

In view of rising cases of Covid-19 in China and some other countries, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has advised states to be on alert, keep all preparedness for Covid management and continue their pre-emptive and proactive approach. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastava)

This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday cautioned against complacency and directed officials to strengthen surveillance measures, especially at international airports. Displayed on this picture is the number of Covid beds at LNJP Hospital in New Delhi. (Express photo by Praveen Khanna)

Modi, who chaired a high-level meeting to review the Covid situation in the country, also urged people to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour, including wearing masks in crowded public places, especially in view of the upcoming festive season. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastava)

During a meeting with health ministers and senior officials of various states, Mandaviya reviewed the public health system’s preparedness for containment and management of Covid and progress of the vaccination campaign. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastava)

Three cases of the Omicron sub-variant BF.7, which is reported to be driving the surge in China, have been detected in India so far. In this picture, a man waits to receive Covid vaccine at a municipal hospital in Navi Mumbai. (Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)

Meanwhile, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday said that while it has no stock of Covishield and Corbevax vaccines with it, it has only 6,000 doses of Covaxin available. (Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)

The BMC data shows that only 13 per cent of the people have taken the booster or precaution dose in Mumbai. (Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)

Overall, there has been a consistent decline in cases in the country with Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana and Tamil Nadu accounting for 78 per cent of the daily new cases reported on December 22, official sources said. In the above picture, a woman gets tested for Covid at a hospital in Navi Mumbai on Friday. (Express photo by Amit Chakravarty)