THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has lauded Kerala for reducing the death toll due to Covid and for not wasting the vaccine. The Centre also suggested that the Onam celebrations in Kerala should be held in a cautious manner in the event of Covid outbreak.

During his meeting with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Mandaviya informed that the Centre had been able to increase vaccine production and that the state will be given more vaccines. Kerala had demanded 1.1 crore doses of vaccine this month and next. During the meeting, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that Kerala was ahead of the national average in vaccination.

Mansukh Mandaviya came to Kerala to directly assess the situation in the state where the spread of Covid is not declining. The Union Minister met the Chief Minister and the Health Minister in Thiruvananthapuram and will also visit the Medical College.