The Election Commission on Thursday reviewed the Covid situation with the Union health secretary and health experts, collecting inputs on necessary safety measures to be ensured during the democratic exercise and emphasising the need for vaccination of all eligible people in five poll-bound states, sources said.

In a separate meeting, the poll panel discussed the law and order situation in the five states—Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Manipur—with Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla. The Commission is expected to announce poll dates in the next few days. Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand High Court has asked the Commission whether it is possible to hold election rallies virtually and online voting in the upcoming polls.