New Delhi: India has crossed 20 crore cumulative COVID-19 vaccination coverage, making it only the second country to achieve the feat after the US, news agency PTI quoted the Union health ministry as saying on Wednesday. India achieved this in 130 days as against the US' feat in 124 days, said the ministry.
According to the ministry's morning data, new cases of coronavirus infection in India were recorded over 2.08 lakh, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 2,71,57,795.
The COVID-19 active caseload is 24,95,591 which now comprises 9.19 per cent of the total infections.
The recovery rate is 89.66 per cent, the data stated.
A total of 2,40,842 new infections were registered in a day, while the death count increased to 3,11,388 with 4,157 daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.
Meanwhile, Moderna is expecting to launch a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine in India next year and is in talks with Cipla among other Indian firms, while another US giant Pfizer is ready to offer 5 crore shots in 2021 itself but it wants significant regulatory relaxations including indemnification, sources said on Tuesday.
While Moderna has conveyed to Indian authorities that it does not have surplus vaccines to share in 2021, there are limited prospects of Johnson & Johnson exporting its jabs from the US to other countries in the near future, the sources privy to discussions added.
Here are the Highlights on India Coronavirus (Covid-19 Cases) Cases:
May 26, 2021 22:27 (IST)
"Prohibitory Orders Remain Despite Gradual Unlocking": Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday said the prohibitory orders in place under section 144 of the CrPC will continue to remain in force in the state despite the gradual unlocking of "Corona Curfew" from June 1, reported news agency PTI.
Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure bans assembly of five or more persons at one place. In a bid to control the spread of the virus, the state government had imposed "Corona Curfew" in several districts of the state, including Bhopal and Indore, till May 31.
May 26, 2021 21:24 (IST)
Karnataka Formulates New Discharge Policy For Recovered Covid Patients
Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar on Wednesday said using steroids in the first week of COVID treatment is one of the causes of Black Fungus infection, according to news agency ANI. Steroids must be used only from the second week, he said.
Dr Sudhakar said a new discharge policy and post-COVID precautions have been formulated for recovered patients. "During discharge, Covid patients will be tested for any fungal infection and will also be subjected to MRI scan if necessary. All district hospitals have been instructed to have a dedicated post-Covid ward," he was quoted as saying.
After the first week of discharge, Covid-recovered persons should get themselves tested at post-Covid ward or can get a tele-consultation, he said, adding that the recovered persons will be contacted to check for symptoms of fungal infection. "If symptoms are found, they'll be called to hospitals," he said.
May 26, 2021 20:56 (IST)
Maharashtra Records 24,752 New Covid Cases, 453 More Deaths
Maharashtra recorded 24,752 new cases of COVID-19 and 453 more deaths, according to a health department bulletin on Wednesday. The state also saw 23,065 patients being discharged today, which pushed the total recovery to 52,41,833 so far. Recovery rate in the state is now 92.76 per cent and case fatality rate is 1.62 per cent. Out of 3,38,24,959 laboratory samples, 56,50,907 have been tested positive (16.71 per cent) for COVID-19 until today, according to the bulletin. Currently, 23,70,326 people are in home quarantine and 19,943 people are in institutional quarantine.
May 26, 2021 20:42 (IST)
"Vaccination To Be Held As Per Schedule On May 27, 28": Bhubaneswar Civic Body
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has said that the vaccination programme under its jurisdiction will be held as per schedule on May 27 and 28, according to news agency ANI.
