<p>A rise in India's Covid-19 infection rate is worrying authorities who are concerned that pilgrimages and tourism could prove to be "superspreader" events in the battle to douse a devastating second wave of infections that has killed thousands.</p>.<p>In a pilgrimage this month, thousands of Hindus are set to walk hundreds of miles across northern cities, carrying pitchers of water from the Ganges, a river they consider sacred.</p>.<p>The <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/third-covid-wave-imminent-ima-says-pilgrimage-tourist-travel-can-wait-1007785.html" target="_blank">pilgrims could act as "super spreaders"</a> and set off a third wave of infections, a top medical body has warned.</p>.<p>The Supreme Court this week questioned federal and state authorities in the most populous state of Uttar Pradesh why mass religious gathering should be allowed.</p>.<p>The home ministry flagged the increase in the infective rate as a cause for concern in some states, urging officials nationwide to enforce social distancing and clamp down on overcrowding at tourist sites.</p>.<p>"We must guard ourselves against complacency and laxity, which creep in as positivity declines," Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla told them in a letter on Wednesday, at a time when most cities have lifted strict lockdowns.</p>.<p><strong>Infectivity jumps</strong></p>.<p>The effective reproduction rate of the disease, which health experts call the "R" factor, now stands at 0.86 in the world's second-most populous nation, online publication Our World in Data shows, a jump of more than 25% in a month.</p>.<p>Bhalla warned of the risk of a faster spread of infection when the rate exceeds 1.</p>.<p>"You may be aware that any increase in 'R' factor above 1.0 is an indicator of spread of Covid-19," he added.</p>.<p>Still, the website showed the 0.86 figure is off an April 9 peak of 1.47.</p>.<p>By May, that had propelled India's daily cases to a staggering 400,000, leaving thousands in cities, including the capital New Delhi, scrambling for oxygen, hospital beds, ambulances and ultimately, morgues.</p>.<p>Bodies washed up on the banks of the Ganges.</p>.<p>States had largely lifted curbs as infections slowed, but the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/end-of-second-covid-19-wave-in-india-is-still-far-away-1007025.html" target="_blank">second wave has not yet ended</a>, top officials have warned.</p>.<p>India's tally of 30.99 million infections is second only to the United States, with 411,989 deaths.</p>.<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi has warned against overcrowding and called for vigilance against new variants, saying vaccination efforts needed to be sped up.</p>.<p>India is trying to inoculate all 950 million adults by year-end, but vaccine shortages and logistics hurdles have meant just 8% have received both doses.</p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>
<p>A rise in India's Covid-19 infection rate is worrying authorities who are concerned that pilgrimages and tourism could prove to be "superspreader" events in the battle to douse a devastating second wave of infections that has killed thousands.</p>.<p>In a pilgrimage this month, thousands of Hindus are set to walk hundreds of miles across northern cities, carrying pitchers of water from the Ganges, a river they consider sacred.</p>.<p>The <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/third-covid-wave-imminent-ima-says-pilgrimage-tourist-travel-can-wait-1007785.html" target="_blank">pilgrims could act as "super spreaders"</a> and set off a third wave of infections, a top medical body has warned.</p>.<p>The Supreme Court this week questioned federal and state authorities in the most populous state of Uttar Pradesh why mass religious gathering should be allowed.</p>.<p>The home ministry flagged the increase in the infective rate as a cause for concern in some states, urging officials nationwide to enforce social distancing and clamp down on overcrowding at tourist sites.</p>.<p>"We must guard ourselves against complacency and laxity, which creep in as positivity declines," Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla told them in a letter on Wednesday, at a time when most cities have lifted strict lockdowns.</p>.<p><strong>Infectivity jumps</strong></p>.<p>The effective reproduction rate of the disease, which health experts call the "R" factor, now stands at 0.86 in the world's second-most populous nation, online publication Our World in Data shows, a jump of more than 25% in a month.</p>.<p>Bhalla warned of the risk of a faster spread of infection when the rate exceeds 1.</p>.<p>"You may be aware that any increase in 'R' factor above 1.0 is an indicator of spread of Covid-19," he added.</p>.<p>Still, the website showed the 0.86 figure is off an April 9 peak of 1.47.</p>.<p>By May, that had propelled India's daily cases to a staggering 400,000, leaving thousands in cities, including the capital New Delhi, scrambling for oxygen, hospital beds, ambulances and ultimately, morgues.</p>.<p>Bodies washed up on the banks of the Ganges.</p>.<p>States had largely lifted curbs as infections slowed, but the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/end-of-second-covid-19-wave-in-india-is-still-far-away-1007025.html" target="_blank">second wave has not yet ended</a>, top officials have warned.</p>.<p>India's tally of 30.99 million infections is second only to the United States, with 411,989 deaths.</p>.<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi has warned against overcrowding and called for vigilance against new variants, saying vaccination efforts needed to be sped up.</p>.<p>India is trying to inoculate all 950 million adults by year-end, but vaccine shortages and logistics hurdles have meant just 8% have received both doses.</p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>