What is the 3-point unlock plan suggested by ICMR chief amid COVID-19?

New Delhi: As the states planning to begin unlocking Covid restriction, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) director general Dr Balram Bharagava on Tuesday listed out the three conditions on which unlock decisions should be taken.

While briefing the Covid situation in India, the ICMR chief Dr Balram Bhargava on Wednesday said lockdowns imposed by state governments to break the chain of transmission have to be lifted very gradually, very slowly to avoid Covid third wave.

Speaking at a health ministry bulletin, Dr Bhargava suggested a three-point plan – focusing on a low positivity rate, vaccination and Covid-appropriate behaviour – to help states identify areas where the lockdown can be lifted. He said that increased testing and containment measures at the district level are not a sustainable solution and hence a mechanism is needed to unlock systematically.

He said re-opening revolves around three pillars – weekly positivity below 5%, at least 70% vaccination of vulnerable sections (elderly and 45+ with co-morbidities), and community-ownership of Covid-appropriate behaviour.

During the briefing, the head of India’s Covid-19 task force, Dr VK Paul also clarified that there will be no mixing of Covid-19 vaccine doses in India until enough scientific evidence on its effectiveness is gathered. It also clarified that there is no change in its SOP for vaccination, and all beneficiaries will get two doses of Covishield and Covaxin.

Several states including Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have begun the unlock process as nearly half of India’s districts are now reporting a seven-day positivity rate of less than 5 per cent. Last week Delhi extended its lockdown till June 7 but allowed manufacturing and construction businesses to resume work with conditions. The positivity rate in the city is below two per cent.

As the number of daily new cases continue to decrease – from a high over four lakh in 24 hours on May 7 and May 9 to around 1.32 lakh on Wednesday – focus has also shifted to vaccination, with the centre facing questions from experts and the Supreme Court over the availability of doses.

Dr Bhargava said the centre hoped to have around one crore vaccine doses available per day by mid-July, or early-August. He said the centre expected to have vaccinated the country by end-2021.

Though, the Supreme Court flagged various flaws in the centre’s vaccination policy, including availability and pricing and asked to respond within two weeks.