NEW DELHI : Despite stringent curbs, Covid spread across the country continues to accelerate. New infections surpassed 2.5 lakh for the 2nd straight day. 1619 deaths were reported on Monday. Given the escalation, next three weeks will prove decisive, forecasts Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology(CSAR-CCMB) Director, Dr. Rakesh Mishra.
Infection Tally Over 1.5 Crore
The tally for confirmed cases in the pandemic so far now stands above 1.5 Crore and death toll at 1.78 lakh. 20 Lakh remain under treatment as of now. Meanwhile, amid surges around the country, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has put off his India visit scheduled next week. A meeting attended by Prime Minister, prominent doctors and drug makers was held in the capital Monday.
12.38 Crore Vaccinated
Nationwide, 12.38 crore people have received their vaccine shots so far with a majority among them injected with just the first dose yet. In the meeting held Monday, PM instructed for inoculations to be carried out for all above 18 on parallel with doses being administered to health workers, frontline workers and citizens over 45.
Vaccine supplies received by Centre from the drug makers shall be distributed to states as per set criterion. States hit by disproportionately high numbers will be accorded preference. Also, supplies for second dose will receive priority.
Vaccine For Over 18 Begins From May 1st
Citizens above 18 will receive their shot from 1st May in commencement of Phase-3 of the inoculation drive. The centre’s announcement comes even as the country is faced with acute supply shortage. Imports will be augmented apart from raising production levels at home.
The Centre said it will speed up vaccine production with public-private partnership. All vaccine makers are required to handover half their output to the central government while the rest may be passed to state governments and open markets. Also, the vaccine produces shall fix their prices before 1st of May, and states and private hospitals may buy their stock thereafter at those prices. In other words, the centre is backing away from its responsibility of ensuring vaccine availaibility at nominal cost.
