Uttar Pradesh recorded a slight rise in new COVID cases on Sunday (491 cases) as compared to Saturday (483 cases) and Friday on (462 cases). As per the reports, Lucknow turned out to be the highest contributor here, with 89 cases in the last 24 hrs, followed by Gautam Budh Nagar and Ghaziabad, that reported 87 and 63 cases respectively.

Looking at the current trends in the Capital City, citizens must prioritise getting the booster shot in Lucknow and mask up at all times!

Due to a constant decline in the number of cases and improved situation, authorities revoked the mask norm, as a result citizens can now be seen without masks in public, paying no heed to social distancing norms either.

The rise in testing and number of cases in the state and across the country once again, signals towards the immediate need to mask up again! Several states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala and New Delhi have started imposing COVID-19 curbs (including making face mask compulsory) to control the new strain's spread.

Face masks are recommended as a potential tool to tackle the spread of the virus since its initial outbreak in China. Various studies show that masks can greatly reduce the chance of spreading COVID-19, especially when majority of cases are asymptomatic. Even though, health experts have not alarmed the need to re-mask, the swift increase in COVID cases is concerning.

And now if you are thinking about what masks to wear? or Are cloth masks good enough to provide protection? Check out this guideline on the usage of Masks.

Amid resurgence of COVID cases across the country, the Government of India also reduced the time gap for administering the precaution dose or the booster dose from nine months to six months. A third dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is a must for people with weakened immune systems, children below 11 years of age and people with comorbidities.

The administration of precautionary or booster dose to the above 18 population through private vaccination centres began in India on April 10, 2022. All those who are more than 18 years of age and have completed 9 months after the administration of the second dose, are eligible for the booster dose.

As per the official data, over 95% of the entire eligible population has been given with the first dose, meanwhile, over 85% of the eligible population has been administered the second dose. Other than this, constant efforts are being made by the authorities to contain the spread.

Recently, Biological E Ltd’s Corbevax became the first COVID-19 vaccine in the country to be approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) as a heterologous COVID booster dose. This means that adults fully vaccinated with Covishield or Covaxin can take Corbevax as their precautionary or booster shot.

Who is eligible for the free booster shot?

As of now, the free booster shot has been made available by the government for the frontline workers, healthcare workers and senior citizens aged above 60 years of age. The vaccination is available at government vaccination centres.

Who can walk in for a booster dose?

The appointment services and registration can be accessed both online and offline so in case you can’t book slots on CoWIN portal, one can get the booster shot by simply using the walk-in facilities.

How to register:

Those who are eligible for the third dose of vaccination can register themselves on the CoWIN portal and get the booster dose. The main purpose of receiving the third dose is to improve immunity.

Do's and Don'ts at the vaccination centre

• Citizens should carry their Final Certificate of vaccination (with details of both earlier doses).

• Citizens should use the same mobile number and ID card used for earlier doses

Additionally, health care workers, front line workers and citizens aged 60 year or more, shall continue to receive precaution dose vaccination at any CVC, including free of charge vaccination at government vaccination centers.