People in Surat, Gujarat, who have not yet received their second dose of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine will be denied access to public spaces such as gardens and zoos, according to the city’s municipal corporation. The rule will take effect on November 15, according to the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC).

“At least 668,000 people in Surat are yet to take their second dose of a Covid-19 vaccine despite crossing their due date to do so. In many cases, they have not taken their second dose even though it has been around 250 days since the day they were to receive their second jab, and this gap is only increasing. And all this is despite repeated calls, messages and door-to-door campaigns,” news agency PTI quoted Surat Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani as saying.  

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As a result, such people have been prohibited from entering public places, according to the official. “They will not be allowed to enter public gardens, parks, zoos, aquariums, science centres etc. They will not be allowed to board the city BRT buses as well,” the Municipal Commissioner further said.

Surat has vaccinated around 62% of beneficiaries with both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, indicating that those who have been inoculated have received full protection against the viral illness. 

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On Saturday, the Gujarat health department reported that a total of 426,000 vaccine doses were administered in the state, bringing the total number of doses administered to 74.1 million. In the western state, 37 more people tested positive, with eight cases found in Surat. The total number of infections is now 826,924, with a death toll of 10,090 remaining unchanged. Meanwhile, the number of recovered and active cases stands at 816,608 and 226 respectively.

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“Ahmedabad district reported 10 new cases, followed by Surat with eight, Vadodara six, Navsari and Valsad four cases each, and Banaskantha, Gir Somnath, Mehsana, Panchmahal and Tapi with one case each,” the official added.