HYDERABAD: Union minister for culture and tourism G. Kishan Reddy brushed aside the possibility of the Centre imposing a lockdown to curb the latest Covid-19 surge, and said a meeting of Chief Ministers would be convened after the festival.
State governments have been given the authority to impose lockdowns and containment zones depending on their need and exigency. However, if one or more states approached it on this issue, the Centre would certainly address the issue, Kishan Reddy said.
He said powers under the National Disaster Management Act had been vested with the state governments which could invoke the provisions if they needed to impose any restrictions. He was addressing the media at Gandhi Hospital on Monday after overseeing the arrangements for administering the third dose to eligible persons.
Assuring the people of the efficacy of the vaccine, Kishan Reddy said those who were inoculated need not worry about Covid issues. About 150 crore doses had been provided by the government so far in the country, Kishan Reddy said.
With Sankranti around the corner, he wanted people to take all precautions and protect their lives. Eleven states in the country see major celebrations for Sankranti, and the likelihood of cases surging was a matter of concern, he said.
Kishan Reddy said the Union government had banned all exports relating to Covid vaccines and medical equipment to other countries. “Our focus is our people and we are doing everything to stop the spread of Covid,” he said.
