Tag: Covid. India

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‘Don’t Let Guard Down’

The latest warning from the Health ministry comes amid a resurgence of Covid-19 cases across Southeast Asia and Europe, reports India Daily Newsdesk

The Centre has asked states and Union Territories to focus on aggressive and sustained genome sequencing and intensified surveillance besides being vigilant on the Covid-19 situation in the country.

The states were warned not to let their guard down and advised them to continue focus on the five-fold strategy of “test, track, treat, follow Covid-appropriate behaviour and vaccinate” while resuming economic and social activities in their jurisdiction.

The latest warning comes amid a resurgence of Covid-19 cases across Southeast Asia and Europe.

In a letter to the states and UTs, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said: “With a resurgence observed in Covid-19 cases across Southeast Asia and some countries of Europe, a high-level meeting was chaired by Health Minister on March 16, 2022 wherein it was advised that states and UTs should focus on aggressive and sustained genome sequencing and intensified surveillance and keep an overall vigil on the Covid-19 situation”.

Bhushan has asked states that there should be a continued focus on the five-fold strategy, Test-Track-Treat-Vaccination and adherence to Covid Appropriate Behaviour.

States should also ensure that adequate number of samples are submitted to INSACOG network through Sentinel sites as per the protocol issued by National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), which is the Nodal Agency for INSACOG, to ensure timely detection of new variants while maintaining adequate testing as per the protocols for testing laid by ICMR, the letter reads further.

“Effective surveillance by monitoring of emerging clusters of new cases, if any, testing as per norms and monitoring of ILI & SARI cases shall be taken up on a continued basis to ensure that no early warning signals are missed and spread of infection can be controlled”, said Bhushan in the letter.

The Centre has also asked stated to ensure that all eligible persons are motivated to get vaccinated against Covid-19 as per the recent expansion of vaccination drive to young adults and precautionary doses for adults besides the completion of doses for all adults.

A health worker inoculates a senior citizen above 60 years of age with a third ‘booster’ dose of the Covaxin vaccine in New Delhi on January 10, 2022. (Photo Wasim Sarvar_IANS)

Active caseload declines

In the last 24 hours, India reported 2,528 new Covid-19 cases and 149 deaths, the Union Health Ministry announced on Friday.

The new fatalities increased the nationwide death toll to 5,16,281.

Following a continuous downward trend, India’s active caseload has further declined to 29,181, constituting 0.07 per cent of the country’s total positive cases.

A total of 3,997 patients have recovered in the last 24 hours, which increased the cumulative tally to 4,24,58,543. Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 98.73 per cent.

Also in the same period, a total of 6,33,867 tests were conducted across the country, taking the total to over 78.18 crore.

While the weekly positivity Rate stood at 0.40 per cent, the daily positivity rate was reported to be 0.40 per cent.

As of Friday morning, India’s Covid-19 vaccination coverage exceeded 180.97 crore, which has been achieved through 2,12,97,331 sessions.

Maintain alertness

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday evening held a high-level meeting with NITI Ayog’s Health) member Dr V.K. Paul, AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria and Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on rising cases of Covid-19 in some Southeast Asian and European nations, said a source.

The Ministry source said that Health Minister has directed the senior officials to maintain alertness, active genome sequencing and high level surveillance across the country in the view of again rising cases of Covid 19 in some countries.

Mandaviya also reviewed the Covid-19 vaccination programme and resumption of international passenger flights from March 27, the source added.

Mandaviya is also expected to chair a meeting with all AIIMS Directors on looming threat of possible fourth wave from 12 noon on Thursday.

Meanwhile, India began the inoculation drive for 12 to 14 age group of children from Wednesday. As per the ministry, only Corbevax Covid vaccine manufactured by Biological E. Ltd is being administered to this age group.

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MEDIA SCAN: India starts booster doses and Imran Khan readies for China visit

India started administering booster doses to frontline workers and senior citizens as COVID-19 cases continue to spike, driven by Omicron.

The precautionary third doses of vaccines started being administered from today, along with the first dose of the vaccines for 15 to 18-year-olds, as the country recorded 1.79 lakh daily COVID-19 cases today, the highest since May 2021.

In light of this surge in infections across India, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has set up a Control Room to “ensure the smooth conduct of international trade” and to guard against disruptions in the transportation and delivery of goods and essential commodities.

In other news, political parties have cancelled their physical rallies and have turned to digital modes to reach out to the voters ahead of the assembly elections in March. As Covid-19 infections rise sharply, all the political parties have asked their social media wing to gear up for campaigning and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat confirmed: “The BJP is ready for virtual rallies.”

Pressure continues to build-up for Imran Khan

In neighbouring Pakistan, the situation appears to get progressively worse for Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Imran Khan (Image credit: IndiaNarrative/IANS)

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has intensified his war against Khan after a report of the Election Commission of Pakistan scrutiny committee revealed that PTI has hidden foreign funding worth millions of rupees. Directing his party workers, Sharif said: “Do not let (prime minister) Imran Khan off the hook as he has been caught red-handed while stealing money through the party’s foreign funding,” reported Dawn.

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The political crises and economic meltdown in the country are likely to intensify in 2022, resulting in a regime change or mass protests, Friday Times reported. This comes as Khan readies to visit China early next month to seek investments and discuss the slow pace of CPEC projects in Pakistan.

In another update from the country, at least 22 people, including 10 children, were sadly killed after they froze to death in their stranded vehicles in Murree after an unprecedented snowfall. Khan said he was “shocked and upset” at the tragic deaths of the tourists.

Crisis-hit Sri Lanka has asked China to restructure its debts

The Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has sought Chinese assistance to restructure its debts as the country faces bankruptcy in 2022, said a media report. The Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa made the request during a meeting with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on Sunday, “as a solution to the economic crisis that has arisen in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the Presidential Media Division said in a statement

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Colombo, Sri Lanka (Image Twitter@GotabayaR)

The island country has been facing a deepening financial and humanitarian crisis as inflation rises to record levels. The Sri Lanka government had announced a national financial emergency last year, after a steep fall in the value of the country’s currency which caused a spike in food prices.

READ MORE: Sri Lanka asks China to ease debt burden

Rohingya refugee campfire leaves thousands homeless in Bangladesh
Approximately 5,000 people are believed to have lost their homes after a fire broke out in south-eastern Bangladesh on Sunday and spread through the shelters made of bamboo and tarpaulin. According to reports, “about 1,200 houses were burnt in the fire”. The cause of the blaze has not been established, he added.

On a lighter note…

Actor Kriti Sanon, in a freewheeling chat, told us that she credits her last year’s release ‘Mimi’ for giving her the strength to take on more risks. As she looks forward to five new releases in 2022, you can read the full story here.

In more news from the south, Tamil anthology ‘Putham Pudhu Kaalai Vidiyaadhaa’ will release on Prime Video on January 14, 2022. It is the second instalment of the Tamil anthology ‘Putham Pudhu Kaalai’, which has been received well by OTT audiences.

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Business COVID-19 India News

CAIT demands ‘Work from Home’ policy

CAIT demands 'Work from Home' policy

The Confederation of All India Traders on Thursday reiterated its demand for a “Work from Home” policy…reports Asian Lite News

The traders’ body urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to direct authorities concerned to formulate rules and regulations for this as “Work from Home” concept “will make work hassle free, increasing productivity, working efficiency for employees”.

“Covid-19 has brought a new business model in India and over the globe, the ‘Work from Home’ model, which has evolved on its own, has proved to be a successful working model throughout the country,” CAIT President B.C. Bhartia and Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said in a statement.

CAIT demands ‘Work from Home’ policy

“Not only the corporate or industry sector but even the self-organised sector consisting of small businesses has too embraced the virtual work world. This model has the capabilities to reduce the infrastructure cost considerably.”

“As per an estimate, about 17 per cent of expenses of any company is considered to be a cost to infrastructure and as such ‘Work from Home’ concept makes companies a saving of about 12 per cent from infrastructure cost, as remaining 5 per cent cost is attributed to maintaining and running the office infrastructure,” the statement said.

Also, it helps in reducing traffic on the roads as it also minimises load on public transport and reduces pollution to a greater extent, it said.

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“While everyone is happy with this arrangement in the short run, conflicts between the employer and employee will arise in the long haul due to the absence of proper protocols for Work from Home,” the statement added.

“Therefore it is important to govern it to prevent future hustles and become an effective tool of highest productivity which will ultimately culminate into substantial growth of GDP and economy of the country.”

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110 countries recognise India’s Covishield, Covaxin

Of eight WHO-approved vaccines against Covid-19 in emergency use listing, two vaccines — Covaxin and Covishield — are from India….reports Asian Lite News

As of now as many as 110 countries have recognized India’s Covid vaccines — Covishield and Covaxin — and have agreed to mutual recognition of Covid-19 vaccination certificates with India, said official sources in the Union Health Ministry.

A source with the Ministry said that at present, 110 countries have agreed to mutual recognition of vaccination certificates and those who recognise Indian vaccination certificates of travellers fully vaccinated with Covishield or World Health Organisation(WHO)-approved Covid vaccines.

As per the new travel guidelines issued by the Union Health Ministry, if a fully vaccinated traveller is coming from a country with which India has reciprocal arrangements for mutual acceptance of WHO-approved Covid-19 vaccines, they will be allowed to leave the airport and must self-monitor their health for 14 days’ post arrival.

If partially or not vaccinated travellers visit India, they will have to submit their sample for post-arrival Covid-19 test at the point of arrival after which they will be allowed to leave the airport. They will have to be undergo home quarantine for seven days and undertake re-test on the eighth day of arrival in India and if found negative, further self-monitor their health for next seven days.

“Travellers arriving from countries excluding those at risk, will be allowed to leave the airport and must self-monitor their health for 14 days’ post arrival. This is applicable to travellers from all countries, including with which reciprocal arrangements for mutual acceptance of WHO-approved Covid-19 vaccines also exist,” said the new international arrival guidelines.

Of eight WHO-approved vaccines against Covid-19 in emergency use listing, two vaccines — Covaxin and Covishield — are from India.

‘Developing Covaxin was a challenge’

Bharat Biotech Director, V. Krishna Mohan, has said developing the Covaxin in “just 10 months” was an enormous challenge.

Addressing a session on Thursday at the Bengaluru Tech Summit-2021, he said there were no vaccines when the Covid-19 hit India, and the world.

“This was a daunting challenge for the pharma sector and the prospective vaccine makers. We were given just 10 months to develop a vaccine to fight the infection but we could succeed in developing Covaxin swiftly at a level within these few months,” he said.

The Central government took the right steps at that juncture, the Bharat Biotech Director added.

“There were no such past precedents and it seems impossible to make a vaccine in such a short span of time,” he said.

The company chalked out a plan to make and develop the vaccine in India, he added.

V. Krishna Mohan further said it is difficult to quantify the hard work that went into the making of the vaccine, adding the company did not compromise on the quality or efficacy of the vaccine at any point of time.

He said Bharat Biotech was successful in releasing Covaxin in a record time and helped to save lives of crores of fellow Indians.

The Indian Council of Medical Research has positively changed its style of functioning in the last decade, he added.

Participating in the session, Deepak Sapra, CEO, API & Services, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, said: “Covid has taught us tough lessons. With the help of our Russian partner we could develop ‘Sputnik V’ vaccines which not only helped India but also other developed countries. However, in respect of vaccine development it is a long way to go for India and Indian pharma companies.”

Divya Bizwan, Senior Vice-President of Aurobindo Pharma, said there was no dearth of talent in India.

“But, there is hardly any recognition for talent in pharma companies. It is necessary for vaccine makers to recognize this need and be more encouraging to the pool of talent that Indian pharma sector has.”

Atin Tomar, CEO of Yapan Bio, also participated in the session.

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Business COVID-19 India News

ITC 2Q FY22: Revenue growth of 13% YoY

ITC 2Q FY22: Revenue growth of 13% YoY

ITC’s 2Q FY22 was ahead of estimates with EBITDA and PBT growing 13 per cent year-on-year (YoY)…reports Asian Lite News

Net cigarette revenue grew 10.3 per cent YoY as the recovery post the second Covid-19 wave has been rapid. Cigarette volumes were back to near pre-Covid levels towards the end of the quarter. Cigarette EBIT also grew 10.4 per cent YoY as margins were stable.

FMCG business had a very high base due the surge in packaged foods in 2Q FY21, and thus revenue growth was muted at 3 per cent YoY.

ITC 2Q FY22: Revenue growth of 13% YoY

EBITDA margin was maintained at 10 per cent despite high input cost inflation from edible oils and packaging material.

Hotels turned EBITDA positive while the paper and agri business also had good quarters with 24 per cent/16 per cent YoY EBIT growth, respectively.

Investor focus is expected to shift to the deliberations of the expert committee to build a roadmap for cigarette taxation.

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“We continue to see positive risk reward. Maintain Outperform,” Credit Suisse said.

FMCG business maintains 10 per cent EBITDA margin despite high input cost inflation.

The two-year revenue CAGR over 2Q FY20 was, however, strong at over 10 per cent. The EBITDA margin was maintained at 10 per cent despite high input cost inflation from edible oils and packaging material.

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Delhi reports zero death for 8th straight day

There are 96 containment zones in the city at present. The death rate continues to be at 1.74 per cent in the national capital…reports Asian Lite News

The national capital Delhi reported 27 fresh Covid cases in the last 24 hours, pushing the total cases in the city to 14,38,685 so far. However, no Covid fatality has been reported for the last 8 days. The death toll in the city continues to be at 25,085 as per the data shared by the Delhi Health Department.

With 0.04 per cent of infection rate in the capital city, the active case tally has come down to 379. A total of 39 Covid patients were discharged in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of recoveries to 14,13,221, the data showed. The national capital has recorded only three fatalities due to the Covid infection in September so far.

Meanwhile, a total of 68,498 new tests were conducted in a day that includes 46,555 RT-PCR tests and 21,943 Rapid Antigen tests, taking the total number to 2,73,46,473 so far according to the Delhi Health Department data.

A view of LNJP Hospital after lockdown in National Capital in the wake of rising Covid-19 cases, in New Delhi On Friday, 23 April, 2021.(Photo:Qamar Sibtain/IANS)



There are 96 containment zones in the city at present. The death rate continues to be at 1.74 per cent in the national capital. A total of 126 Covid patients are being treated in home isolation at present in Delhi.

Out of 1,62,344 vaccine doses administered in the last 24 hours, a total of 71,096 doses were administered for the first time and 91,248 for the second dose in Delhi.

The total number of cumulative beneficiaries vaccinated so far stands at 1,69,23,079, according to the bulletin shared by the Delhi Health Department.

Meanwhile, the sixth sero survey has started in the national capital where total 28,000 samples will be collected in a week. Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Saturday said he believes that a lot of people in the city will have antibodies this time.

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Cinemas to reopen in Maharashtra ahead of Diwali

The move came a day after the government permitted the reopening of most schools in the state from October 4 and all places of worship from October 7…reports Asian Lite News

 Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday announced that all cinema halls and drama theatres in the state will reopen from October 22, just ahead of Diwali and 18 months after the box-offices were shut in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic plus the series of lockdowns since March 2020.

“The work is underway to prepare a detailed SOP in this regard which will be announced soon,” said the CM as the announcement spread ripples of excitement in the film and theatre worlds now gearing up to return to ‘full houses’, 10 days before the Diwali festival.

The CM held detailed discussions with the Covid Task Force members — Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Dr Pradeep Vyas and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and others.

At the meeting were present from the Bollywood and Marathi film industry captains to President of Multiplex Association of India Kamal Gianchandani who is also the CEO of PVR Pictures, Inox Leisure Ltd CEO Alok Tandon, Cinepolis India CEO Devand Sampat, Carnival Cinemas CEO Kunal Sawhney, PEN Studios’ Jayantilal Gada, and PEN Marudhar Director Sanjay Chhatar.

Others who attended the meeting were film personalities like Rohit Shetty, Makrand Deshpande, Subodh Bhave, Aadesh Bandekar and other representatives from the stage and silver screen.

Shetty profusely thanked Thackeray and greeted the latest development by announcing a Diwali release for his much-awaited buzzy film “Sooryavanshi” starring Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif and others, hoping to send the cash registers ringing away after 18 months.

The move came a day after the government permitted the reopening of most schools in the state from October 4 and all places of worship from October 7, with restrictions and protocols, as the Covid-19 situation appears to be easing in the state.

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The situation is miserable with loan sharks in TN

The interest rate being charged by these loan sharks are steep, with rates as high as 20 percent per month being levied from the gullible borrowers…reports Asian Lite News

Post-Covid, the situation in rural Tamil Nadu is miserable with loan sharks, including Self Help Group (SHG) members, taking rounds to pester people who have taken money from them.

The loan sharks are on the prowl in the villages of Tamil Nadu with several people losing their motorbikes, four-wheelers, pick-up vans and even tractors to the usurers.

The interest rate being charged by these loan sharks are steep, with rates as high as 20 per cent per month being levied from the gullible borrowers.

When the pandemic was ravaging, people were in need of money and several loan sharks surfaced in the villages of Tamil Nadu providing loans. There is a network of lenders who connect the borrower to other lenders to settle the money borrowed. This leads to an unending trap for the borrower, making his life miserable.

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Shanmughanadhan, 43, a farmer at a village in Salem district, told IANS, “The loan sharks of this area are all interconnected and they are charging heavily. We don’t have a choice as the banks do not support us and to buy certain essential items for farming, we have to resort to the lenders who immediately give us money. However, one understands the trap only later when the money drains out like water and the lender becomes fattier and fattier by the day.”

The Self Help Groups run by women are also providing money against a huge interest rate of more than 20 per cent a month while in general, they provide loans at 4 to 6 per cent annual interest rate as the money is provided by the Central government under various schemes.

Sudharani, a private store employee from Musiri taluk in Trichy, said, “I took Rs 10,000 from a woman coordinator of an SHG. She told me that I have to pay Rs 1,000 per month as interest which I did. But after some time, she told me to pay Rs 1,000 per week and now the money has grown into a huge amount. I have stopped paying and have lodged a complaint with the local police station.”

The policemen are also tight-lipped on the matter. When contacted, a police officer at the Musiri police station told IANS, “We are getting several complaints of money not being repaid etc. People take money from the money lenders at higher rates knowing fully well that the rates are exorbitant. We have registered a case and will investigate the matter. The woman coordinator of an SHG is not expected to do this as SHGs were opened to save people from the loan sharks.”

Interestingly, both public sector banks and private banks are allegedly charging compound interest and fleecing the people while there was a moratorium announced by the government during the Covid pandemic.

Velusamy, a farmer in Chengalpattu district, told IANS, “We can understand the nature of the private money lenders but the public and private sector banks are charging compound interest even for the moratorium period and when we raise a complaint, they try to reduce it.”

A senior official with the State Bank of India at the bank’s head office in Chennai told IANS, “The banks are not supposed to charge interest during the moratorium period and we will look into the matter if complaints are raised.”

In many villages of rural Tamil Nadu, the situation is dismal and the loan sharks, private money lenders, SHGs, and even public and private sector banks are extracting money from the gullible and vulnerable villagers.

While the government of Tamil Nadu could curtail the spread of Covid pandemic with sincere efforts, the loan sharks and local money lenders are turning into a major menace, hurting the lives of people in rural Tamil Nadu.

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One dose administered to two-thirds of India’s adult population

Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that though the daily cases continue to show declining trends, the country is still in the middle of the second wave and it has not been concluded yet…reports Asian Lite News

India has administered one Covid dose to around two-thirds of the adult population, officials said on Thursday.

Addressing a press briefing on the current Covid situation across the country, NITI Aayog’s Member, Health, Dr V.K. Paul said that India has successfully administered one dose to 66 per cent of the adult population, and almost a quarter have received the both doses.

Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that though the daily cases continue to show declining trends, the country is still in the middle of the second wave and it has not been concluded yet. He said that people need to maintain Covid appropriate behaviour all the time and need to accelerate the mass vaccination drive at all levels.

The majority of cases are still being reported from Maharashtra and Kerala, though the absolute number has declined, he said. “Around 62.73 per cent of the total cases reported last week are from Kerala.”

Bhushan said that the weekly positive rate continue to be below 3 per cent for the last 12 weeks, but 33 districts, including 13 from Kerala, still have over 10 per cent weekly positive rates, while 23 districts have a weekly positivity rate between 5 to 10 per cent.

He said that a detailed SOP has been sent to all states and UTs to follow the proper guidelines from October to November in the upcoming festival season.

The Health Secretary said that a total of 62 crore first doses, and 21.5 crore second doses have been given across the nation so far. While 99 per cent health care workers have received their first dose, 84 per cent have received their second dose. Meanwhile, 100 per cent front line workers have received their first dose and 80 per cent have got the second dose.

Terming the present UK travel restrictions as discriminatory, he said that India has the right to reciprocate in the same manner. However, he added, both nations are working to find a solution soon.

Asked about the vaccine administration in private sector, he replied that roughly 6 per cent of the vaccines have been administered from May so far in the private hospitals.

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States advised to focus on 60+, administer 2nd dose to eligible persons

Bhushan also discussed the details of the states and UT’s balance stock of 0.5 ml syringes, vaccination coverage among special groups….reports Asian Lite News

The Centre has asked the states to quickly saturate the first dose coverage among the 18+ population. In a review meeting with the northeast and hill states on Saturday, health secretary Rajesh Bhushan told the states to saturate the 18+ age group with the 1st dose and focus on the 60+ age group and administer the 2nd dose to those eligible.

He pointed out that the states should focus on the 60+ age group as the coverage of both the doses in this category is unsatisfactory in Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Meghalaya. The vulnerability of this age group to Covid makes this exercise of prime importance.

He suggested that the states must earmark doses and days and target the completion of the exercise for these beneficiaries.

Bhushan also discussed the details of the states and UT’s balance stock of 0.5 ml syringes, vaccination coverage among special groups (Transgender Persons, Persons with Disabilities, PWI and Prisoners), Covid vaccination coverage among women particularly pregnant and lactating.

The Centre asked the states to closely monitor the stock from State Vaccine Stores to Cold Chain Point, check rational distribution and restrict vaccine wastage to below 2%. They should update data on eVIN on a daily basis, check supply of other denomination syringes as per availability (0.5 ml/1ml/2 ml/3ml Auto Disable/Re-use Prevention Syringes/Disposable) for Covid vaccination.



Meanwhile, India continues to report a higher number of daily Covid cases. A total of 42,618 new Covid cases were reported in the last 24 hours, pushing the total tally to 3,29,45,907. In the same duration, 330 deaths were reported across the country.

Following a substantial growth of 5,903, the number of active cases currently stood at 4,05,681. In the same period, a total of 36,385 Covid patients were discharged from hospitals and health centers across the country, pushing the overall recoveries to 3 21,00,001.

The recovery rate currently stands at 97.43 per cent. According to the Ministry data, while the weekly positivity rate is at 2.63 per cent, which has been less than 3 per cent for the last 71 days, the daily positivity rate is reported to be 2.50 per cent.

The daily positivity rate has remained below 5 per cent for 89 consecutive days now. India’s cumulative Covid-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 67 crore on Saturday. With the administration of 58,85,687 doses in the last 24 hours, India’s vaccination coverage figure stands at 67,72,11,205 as per provisional reports of the Health Ministry. This has been achieved through 70,88,424 sessions.

The testing capacity across the country continues to be expanded. The last 24 hours saw a total of 17,04,970 tests being conducted. India has so far conducted 52,82,40,038 tests.

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