Second Covid wave over; TS ready to reopen edu institutions: DPH

He, however, hastened to add that only vaccinated teaching and nonteaching staff should be allowed to work. He also supported the idea of people being allowed at public places only after the vaccination.

"We have recommended that the teaching and non-teaching staff who received COVID vaccine should be allowed. This is a good time to reopen schools and colleges as Covid-19 cases are under control. We have vaccinated several groups including teachers and support staff. If anyone is yet to take the jab, they can go to the nearest vaccination center. If anyone is left behind, we urge the administration to either get it done or approach us," Dr. Rao told the media.

He said that the second wave is over as the state's R-value is around 0.7, which means that the infection has lowered in the state. R- Value- 1 means, a person can infect one more person.

He said the test Positivity Rate was 0.5 percent and hospitalization was less than 6 percent, implying that the second wave was under control.

"We have vaccinated more people than the estimated population of Hyderabad. Effectively, in Hyderabad, nearly 117 percent of people have taken at least one dose of the vaccine, showing encouraging signs of herd immunity. In Medchal, 70 percent of the people have been vaccinated, while it is 88 percent in Rangareddy," he said.

He said the central government has estimated the vaccine population of the 18 plus age group at 2.26 crore. "The population has increased. Plus migration has happened in our state from different states," said Rao.

He noted that to speed up the vaccination drive, 80 more mobile vans would be added across the state. Around 80 vans are functioning in the GHMC region. These vans, in a span of seven days, vaccinated 1.21 lakh individuals, he said.